3D Toxicity  

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Yep lots of people have, there are many filtration systems available to either buy or build yourself if this is a concern for you.

Google carbon filters this should help you on your way.

Regards

Swiss_Cheese

RE: 3D Toxicity

Thanks. I will check it out.

I guess that means there is nothing available from Prusa.

If you read the original paper you'll find they refer to 'potential' risks, there are no actual medical cases.  The doses they used to affect their cell cultures were deliberately artificially high.  The greater risk is from ABS printing - which stinks so much that almost all is done in enclosures with filters and that PLA emission levels are several hundred times less potent than from, for eg, diesel exhaust.

So, don't print in your bedroom without an enclosure.

Don't run a print farm without ventilation.

And (not directly from the article but from other sources) do dry your filaments so they produce fewer particulates.

In other words, unless you are doing something silly, don't worry.

Cheeriio,

RE: 3D Toxicity

I have an enclosure for the Prusa, but no special filter.

It seems like the vast majority of the stink stays in the enclosure, as it's not as obvious when I print ABS as it was before I got the enclosure.  'Hey, it smells like melted plastic in here.'

As far as particulates, I haven't noticed any increase in dust in the home office since I put the printers in there.  I'm also assuming that anything airborne will be captured by the furnace filters, which are changed regularly.

RE: 3D Toxicity

Situated where I'm sitting, 1,5 m from where I print. No enclosure, no filtering, printing PLA.

RE: 3D Toxicity

Thanks, that's good info, Yveske. Does the meter display what size particles are being measured?

RE: 3D Toxicity

From the article below:

Particulate matter such as PM10, PM2.5, PM1 and PM0.1 is defined as the fraction of particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than respectively 10, 2.5, 1 and 0.1 µm (for your information: 1 µm = 1 millionth of a meter or 1 thousandth of a millimeter). In comparison, the average diameter of a human hair equals 50-70 µm (see figure below)

https://www.irceline.be/en/documentation/faq/what-is-pm10-and-pm2.5

RE: 3D Toxicity

Thanks, that's good info, Yveske. Does the meter display what size particles are being measured?

Posted by: @yveske

From the article below:

Particulate matter such as PM10, PM2.5, PM1 and PM0.1 is defined as the fraction of particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than respectively 10, 2.5, 1 and 0.1 µm (for your information: 1 µm = 1 millionth of a meter or 1 thousandth of a millimeter). In comparison, the average diameter of a human hair equals 50-70 µm (see figure below)

https://www.irceline.be/en/documentation/faq/what-is-pm10-and-pm2.5

 

Sorry for the delay.

What you have provided is a definition of PM10, PM2.5, etc. What I asked for was, what is your meter showing:

Was it counting particles < 10µm, or perhaps < 2.5µm, or something else? In addition, what is the smallest particle size your meter can measure? 

RE: 3D Toxicity

My printer is in my office which means I often run prints while I work on my computer. I have a small air purifier (HEPA + carbon) which could help, but I generally just try to open the window when possible for air circulation.

@yveske That looks nice and useful, what meter is this?

RE: 3D Toxicity

Sorry I misunderstood.

It is this little thing, but I see it's currently unavailable: https://www.amazon.de/-/nl/dp/B07PZ5M39K
It costed me €44.99

If you look at the upper left side of the display, it shows particles < 2.5µm.
Underneath there are two smaller boxes with particles < 01µm and particles < 10µm.

I don't know how accurate it is, but the device detects neighbours burning wood even with all doors closed.

PS: Found a comparable one on Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Quality-Detector-Tester-Monitor/dp/B07DL1M46J

RE: 3D Toxicity

Thanks for the links! I'm going to pick one of these up, for sure. 

I am in a 400 sq. ft. room with 8 printers printing PLA and have an air purifier running, but I do wonder if there are any air quality issues in here -- so this is just the item I need!

Thanks again.

RE: 3D Toxicity

Right next to four of my Mini's I have a LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies Pets Hair in Bedroom, THEN I switched the filter to the LEVOIT Air Purifier Toxin Absorber Replacement Filter, 3-in-1 True HEPA, High-Efficiency Activated Carbon,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VVK39F7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RSZF32W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I bought this to use next to a resin printer, that I am not us using right now.
It's alot more quiet than four mini's printing at once 🙂