Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Size Distributions of Particulate Matter Emitted during 3D Printing and Estimates of Inhalation Exposure

3D 프린팅 가동 조건 별 발생 입자크기 분포와 흡입 노출량 추정

  • Park, Jihoon (Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Jeon, Haejoon (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Park, Kyungho (The Center of Green Complex Technologies, Korea Conformity Laboratories) ;
  • Yoon, Chungsik (Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • 박지훈 (서울대학교 보건환경연구소) ;
  • 전혜준 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과) ;
  • 박경호 (한국건설생활환경시험연구원 건축유해성평가센터) ;
  • 윤충식 (서울대학교 보건환경연구소)
  • Received : 2018.09.13
  • Accepted : 2018.11.13
  • Published : 2018.11.28
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Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify the size distributions of particulate matter emitted during 3D printing according to operational conditions and estimate particle inhalation exposure doses at each respiratory region. Methods: Four types of printing filaments were selected: acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), Laywood, and nylon. A fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer was used for printing. Airborne particles between 10 nm and $10{\mu}m$ were measured before, during, and after printing using real-time monitors under extruder temperatures from 215 to $290^{\circ}C$. Inhalation exposures, including inhaled and deposited doses at the respiratory regions, were estimated using a mathematical model. Results: Nanoparticles dominated among the particles emitted during printing, and more particles were emitted with higher temperatures for all materials. Under all temperature conditions, the Laywood emitted the highest particle concentration, followed by ABS, PLA, and nylon. The particle concentration peaked for the initial 10 to 20 minutes after starting operations and gradually decreased with elapsed time. Nanoparticles accounted for a large proportion of the total inhaled particles in terms of number, and about a half of the inhaled nanoparticles were estimated to be deposited in the alveolar region. In the case of the mass of inhaled and deposited dose, particles between 0.1 and $1.0{\mu}m$ made up a large proportion. Conclusion: The number of consumers using 3D printers is expected to expand, but hazardous emissions such as thermal byproducts from 3D printing are still unclear. Further studies should be conducted and appropriate control strategies considered in order to minimize human exposure.

Keywords

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