Effects of Polycarbonate Emissions Generated by 3-Dimensional Printing on Circulating Steroids and Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chapman P ; Jackson M ; Knepp A ; Krajnak, Kristine M. ; Mandler K ; Matheson J ; McKinney W ; Qian Y ; Thomas T ; Waugh, Stacey
• Description:
  Background and Purpose: 3-dimensional (3D) printing is commonly used to produce a wide range of plastic consumer products in manufacturing settings, schools and homes. The heating of plastic feedstock during the printing process generates emissions containing particulate matter and potentially toxic chemicals that can be inhaled by people near the printers during the printing process. Manufacturers may have engineering controls such as shields and exhaust vents in place to prevent workers from inhaling particulate and fumes. However, less expensive printers found in schools and homes often don't have these devices to protect people from exposure. Exposure to emissions generated during printing is associated with dysfunction of a number of physiological systems. For example, we previously demonstrated that inhalation of polycarbonate (PC) emissions generated during 3D printing results in deposition of bisphenol A (BPA) in the respiratory system. BPA exposure disrupts both reproductive and metabolic function. Based on these data we hypothesized that endocrine disruption in rats exposed to 3D printer emissions (3DE) would be associated with inhalation of BPA in the PC stock. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 48) were exposed to filtered air or particulate and fumes generated using black PC filament with 5 desktop-3D-printer nozzles (exposure 4 h/day (d)). The 4 h average particle concentration delivered to the breathing space was 2.15mg/m3. Animals were exposed for 1d or 4 d/week, or until they had been exposed for 1, 8, 15 or 30 d. The after the last exposure animals were euthanized, and serum was isolated. Using BPA measured during a single exposure, a deposition model estimated that BPA deposition in the respiratory system was 0.115, 0.917, 1.72 and 3.44 µg after 1, 8, 15 and 30d of exposure. Results: Testosterone concentrations of 3DE and air control animals were higher after 8 and 15 d of exposure than after 1d of exposure. This difference was more pronounced in the control animals. Progesterone was reduced after 1, 15 and 30d of 3DE, as were thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels after 1, 15 and 30d of 3DE, and 8 and 30d of air control exposure. Increases in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were observed after 1, 8 and 30d of 3DE, and in circulating estradiol levels after 15 and 30d of exposure of 3DE. Conclusions: Based on these results, inhalation of 3DE results in changes in circulating concentrations of hormones associated with the regulation of reproduction and metabolism, and these effects are, at least in part, due to BPA in the PC stock. Changes in hormone levels may potentially have significant effects on reproductive and endocrine function in workers and children. These findings are consistent with studies looking at the ingestion of BPA. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Laboratories Occupational Health Printing, Three-Dimensional Respiratory System Safety Steroids Toxicology
• Keywords:
  3D Printing Hormone Activity Inhalation Laboratory Animals Printer-emitted Particles Three Dimensional Printing
• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  379-380
• Volume:
  198
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069345
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2024 Mar; 198(S1):379-380
• CAS Registry Number:
  Polycarbonates (CAS RN 25766-59-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 63rd Annual Meeting & ToxExpo, March 10-14, 2024, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cd203f0bda2a3ef9fdf14b11398d8d7a0c9a2d08f30c805a771cb2831994faec16ab7752ec9f48877ffea6a2f7668ecbdf577eb377580e518e990f90ed80b1de
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207843/cdc_207843_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 578.55 KB ]