Hall Samantha, Sumner Jade, Hunwin Graeme, Martell Samuel, Pengelly Ian, Brown Veronica, Staff James, Forder James, Bard Delphine
HSE Science Division, Health and Safety Executive's Science and Research Centre, Harpur Hill, Buxton SK17 9JN, United Kingdom.
Ann Work Expo Health. 2025 Mar 15;69(3):284-296. doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxae101.
Desktop three-dimensional (3D) printers are used in businesses, schools, and colleges, and are generally of an unenclosed design which may give rise to injuries or inhalation exposure to emissions of small particles (<1 µm) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The aim of this work was to explore the health risks related to the use of desktop 3D printers in workplaces in the United Kingdom. A digital survey on the use of desktop 3D printers was completed voluntarily and anonymously between February and June 2023, receiving 146 responses. The most common technology and material used for printing were "filament deposition" and "polylactic acid," respectively. The median number of printers an organisation had in use in one room was 2. A median of 10 people could be in the room during printer operation. A range of finishing techniques were reportedly applied to the printed object including the use of hand tools and solvents. General room ventilation was the most common exposure control measure stated. Measurements of airborne particles and VOCs were taken at 2 sites: a university and an engineering workshop. Airborne particle number concentrations (<1 µm) did not significantly increase above background levels when the printers were operating at either site. At the university, where there was the largest number of printers in operation, some VOCs could be attributed to the printing process; however, concentrations remained low. Evidence of associated respiratory symptoms was gathered by asking volunteers at the 2 sites visited to complete a questionnaire. Seventeen volunteers across the 2 sites completed the survey. None stated that they had ever experienced acute symptoms from working with 3D printers. However, they did report symptoms which included tiredness, dry/cracked skin, headache, itchy/runny nose, and a cough, with some stating that these improved on their days off. Overall, limited evidence from published literature and this study suggests that exposure to desktop 3D printing emissions could be associated with short-term respiratory health symptoms. However, static measurements in 2 workplaces where multiple desktop 3D printers were in use did not show airborne particle number concentrations in the room rising above background levels and concentrations of measured VOCs were all low. These findings may be due to effective ventilation and other control measures which over half of the workplaces surveyed stated that they had in place.
桌面三维（3D）打印机在企业、中小学和大学中均有使用，其设计通常为开放式，这可能会导致人员受伤，或因吸入小颗粒（<1微米）排放物和挥发性有机化合物（VOC）而接触到这些物质。这项工作的目的是探讨在英国工作场所使用桌面3D打印机所带来的健康风险。2023年2月至6月期间，我们自愿且匿名地完成了一项关于桌面3D打印机使用情况的数字调查，共收到146份回复。打印最常用的技术和材料分别是“丝状沉积”和“聚乳酸”。一个组织在一个房间中使用的打印机数量中位数为2台。打印机运行期间，房间内的人员数量中位数为10人。据报道，对打印物体采用了一系列后处理技术，包括使用手动工具和溶剂。一般房间通风是最常提及的接触控制措施。在两个场所进行了空气中颗粒物和VOC的测量：一所大学和一个工程车间。当打印机在任一场所运行时，空气中颗粒物数量浓度（<1微米）并未显著高于背景水平。在运行打印机数量最多的大学，一些VOC可归因于打印过程；然而，浓度仍然很低。通过要求在走访的两个场所的志愿者填写问卷，收集了相关呼吸道症状的证据。两个场所共有17名志愿者完成了调查。没有人表示曾因使用3D打印机而出现急性症状。然而，他们确实报告了一些症状，包括疲劳、皮肤干燥/皲裂、头痛、鼻子发痒/流涕和咳嗽，一些人表示这些症状在休息日会有所改善。总体而言，已发表文献和本研究的证据有限，表明接触桌面3D打印排放物可能与短期呼吸道健康症状有关。然而，在两个使用多台桌面3D打印机的工作场所进行的静态测量并未显示房间内空气中颗粒物数量浓度高于背景水平，且所测VOC浓度均较低。这些发现可能是由于超过一半接受调查的工作场所表示已采取了有效的通风和其他控制措施。
