Additive Manufacturing: possible problems with indoor air quality

This study deals with Additive Manufacturing and the possible problem of Indoor Air Quality pollution due to the melting process of 3D printers, during which materials such as plastics emit gaseous substances, commonly called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Assessing that the quantity of substances emitted does not exceed threshold levels is important for the health and safety of those using such digital tools. Therefore it has been performed air sampling of indoor air environments, while a 3D printer was under function, with different types of plastic in order to understand and assess the potential dangerousness to human health of this technological tool. Data collection in the research was performed by means of a membrane pump through an activated carbon vial (following the line of the ISO 16000-3:2011 standard), on plastics such as Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polyethylene Terephthalate ( PET) and Acrinolitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). The results are in line with what has been previously found in literature and indicate that ABS is more toxic than PLA, but that the PLA under certain conditions is not free from harmful emissions to health issues, especially if melted at temperatures over 200°C. What is more adding PET to the comparison, this is the material which emitted less substances.