Exposures During Industrial 3-D Printing and Post-Processing Tasks

Details

• Personal Author:
  Du Plessis J ; Du Preez S ; Johnson A ; LeBouf, Ryan F. ; Linde SJL ; Stefaniak, Aleksandr B.
• Description:
  Purpose: This paper aims to measure exposures to airborne contaminants during three-dimensional (3-D) printing and post-processing tasks in an industrial workplace. Design/methodology/approach: Contaminant concentrations were assessed using real-time particle number (0.007 to 1 µm) and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) monitors and thermal desorption tubes during various tasks at a manufacturing facility using fused deposition modeling (FDMTM) 3-D printers. Personal exposures were measured for two workers using nanoparticle respiratory deposition samplers for metals and passive badges for specific VOCs. Findings: Opening industrial-scale FDMTM3-D printer doors after printing, removing desktop FDMTM3-D printer covers during printing, acetone vapor polishing (AVP) and chloroform vapor polishing (CVP) tasks all resulted in transient increases in levels of submicrometer-scale particles and/or organic vapors, a portion of which enter the workers' breathing zone, resulting in exposure. Personal exposure to quantifiable levels of metals in particles <300 nm were 0.02 mg/m3 for aluminum, chromium, copper, iron and titanium during FDMTM printing. Personal exposures were 0.38 to 6.47 mg/m3 for acetone during AVP and 0.18 mg/m3 for chloroform during CVP. Originality/value: Characterization of tasks provided insights on factors that influenced contaminant levels, and in turn exposures to various particles, metals < 300 nm and organic vapors. These concentration and exposure factors data are useful for identifying tasks and work processes to consider for implementation of new or improved control technologies to mitigate exposures in manufacturing facilities using FDMTM 3-D printers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Printing, Three-Dimensional Safety Volatile Organic Compounds
• Keywords:
  3D Printing Advanced Manufacturing Author Keywords: Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Exposure Exposure Assessment Fused Deposition Modelling Health Nanotechnology Printer-emitted Particles Three Dimensional Printing Ultrafine Particulates VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds

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• ISSN:
  1355-2546
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  24
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051885
• Citation:
  Rapid Prototyp J 2018 Jul; 24(5):865-871
• Contact Point Address:
  Sonette Du Preez, Faculty of Occupational Hygiene and Health Research Initiative, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance ; Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Rapid Prototyping Journal
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:dde12a7e856eeec083feecd14963aea66815dccb98af31da65b0d193fc0056e7a4cb0dfdb8f53128d861338b68ef0a4211aad8501d39740a2eff1a765a6c673b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211567/cdc_211567_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 331.25 KB ]