What the media hype is not reporting: 3D printers are bad for human health

Ventilation would be a big help.

http://www.core77.com/blog/digital_fabrication/what_the_media_hype_is_not_reporting_3d_printers_are_bad_for_human_health--but_so_is_cooking_with_an_electric_frying_pan_25275.asp / research paper Illinois Institute of Technology little-examined little examined side 3D printing dangerous to human health Assistant Professor Brent Stephens heads up Built Environment Research Group Department of Civil Architectural and Environmental Engineering team grad students ultrafine particles UFP UFPs given off plastic melted extruded through commercially available desktop 3D printers brand names provided media outlets feverishly picking up story comparing 3D printing cigarette smoking health effects researchers found 3D printing gives off UFPs significant enough significant-enough amounts printers characterized high emitters offending particles particularly relevant health perspective they deposit efficiently pulmonary alveolar regions lung dead head airways deposition head airways lead translocation brain via olfactory nerve high surface areas associated UFPs also lead to high concentrations adsorbed condensed compounds epidemiological studies elevated UFP number concentrations associated adverse health effects cardio-respiratory mortality hospital admissions for stroke asthma symptoms certainly sounds disturbing research paper recent studies reported size resolved size-resolved total UFP emission rates other consumer devices appliances activities laser printers candles cigarettes irons radiators cooking on gas and electric stoves previous study reported total UFP emission rates same size range measured during various cooking activities comparison estimate total UFP emission rate single PLA based PLA-based 3D printer similar reported during cooking electric frying pan 3D printer utilizing higher temperature ABS feedstock emission rate estimate similar reported during grilling food gas electric stove stoves low power approximately order of magnitude lower than gas electric stoves operating high power Regardless, the desktop 3D printers measured classified high emitters study revealed emission rates UFPs approximately order of magnitude higher 3D printers utilizing ABS thermoplastic feedstock relative PLA feedstock higher temperatures required to extrude ABS chemical composition material itself that makes worse PLA given a choice between materials study reveal potential dangers to human health 3D printing surprising dangers cooking with conventional utensils shares of 3D printers research paper publicity commercially available commercially-available 3D printers exhaust ventilation filtration accessories inadequately ventilated unfiltered indoor environments controlled experiments particle emissions desktop 3D printers /