Exploring Methods for Surveillance of Occupational Exposure from Additive Manufacturing in Four Different Industrial Facilities

Abstract

3D printing, a type of additive manufacturing (AM), is a rapidly expanding field. Some adverse health effects have been associated with exposure to printing emissions, which makes occupational exposure studies important. There is a lack of exposure studies, particularly from printing methods other than material extrusion (ME). The presented study aimed to evaluate measurement methods for exposure assessment in AM environments and to measure exposure and emissions from four different printing methods [powder bed fusion (PBF), material extrusion (ME), material jetting (MJ), and vat photopolymerization] in industry. Structured exposure diaries and volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors were used over a 5-day working week. Personal and stationary VOC samples and real-Time particle measurements were taken for 1 day per facility. Personal inhalable and respirable dust samples were taken during PBF and MJ AM. The use of structured exposure diaries in combination with measurement data revealed that comparatively little time is spent on actual printing and the main exposure comes from post-processing tasks. VOC and particle instruments that log for a longer period are a useful tool as they facilitate the identification of work tasks with high emissions, highlight the importance of ventilation and give a more gathered view of variations in exposure. No alarming levels of VOCs or dust were detected during print nor post-processing in these facilities as adequate preventive measures were installed. As there are a few studies reporting negative health effects, it is still important to keep the exposure as low as reasonable.