Health Risks of Additive Manufacturing Technology

doi: 10.32562/mkk.2025.2.9

Abstract

Despite the fact that additive manufacturing technology has been around for decades, its radical
uptake has only been seen in recent years. Today, they are not only used in industrial areas, but also
in everyday household applications. At the same time, accidents and injuries have also occurred
that were solely the result of the easy access to 3D printers. The risks of accidents and injuries in
additive manufacturing arise in different areas. Burns, injuries caused by moving parts, electrical
shocks, chemical accidents, as well as fire hazards and ergonomic problems have been reported.
Minimising risks is impossible without proper personal protective equipment and adherence to
safety measures, as well as professional handling and maintenance of machinery. Our aim is to
draw the reader’s attention to the risk factors that can fundamentally influence the likelihood of
injuries and accidents occurring.

Keywords:

additive manufacturing 3D printing occupational health and safety health risks

References

BYRLEY, Peter – GEORGE, Barbara J. – BOYES, William K. – ROGERS, Kim (2019): Particle Emissions from Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printers: Evaluation and Meta-analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 655, 395–407. Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.070

GARCÍA GONZÁLEZ, Héctor – LÓPEZ POLA, Teresa (2022): Health and Safety in 3D Printing. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Safety, 6(1), 14–25. Online: https://doi.org/10.24840/2184-0954_006.001_0003

GARCIA GONZALEZ, Hector – LOPEZ POLA, Mª Teresa (2023): Health and Safety in 3D Printing. In SHARMA, Ashutosh (ed.): Advances in 3D Printing. IntechOpen. Online: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109439

GU, Jianwei – WENSING, Michael – UHDE, Erik – SALTHAMMER, Tunga (2019): Characterization of Particulate and Gaseous Pollutants Emitted during Operation of a Desktop 3D Printer. Environment International, 123, 476–485. Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.12.014

JACKSON, Katelin C. – CLANCEY, Erin – CALL, Douglas R. – LOFGREN, Eric (2024): 3D Printers in Hospitals: Bacterial Contamination of Common and Antimicrobial 3D-Printed Material. BioRxiv, The Preprint Server for Biology. Online: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.30.587440

KWON, Ohhun – YOON, Chungsik – HAM, Seunghon – PARK, Jihoon – LEE, Jinho – YOO, Danbi – KIM, Yoojin (2017): Characterization and Control of Nanoparticle Emission during 3D Printing. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(18),10357–10368. Online: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b01454

LONGHITANO, Guilherme Arthur – NUNES, Guilherme Bitencourt – CANDIDO, Geovany – LOPES DA SILVA, Jorge V. (2021): The Role of 3D Printing during Covid-19 Pandemic: A Review. Progress in Additive Manufacturing, 6, 19–37. Online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40964-020-00159-x

MOHAMMADIAN, Yousef – NASIRZADEH, Nafiseh (2021): Toxicity Risks of Occupational Exposure in 3D Printing and Bioprinting Industries: A Systematic Review. Toxicology and Industrial Health, 37(9), 573–584. Online: https://doi.org/10.1177/07482337211031691

RIM, Kyung-Taek (2023): Chemicals Released from 3D Printers and the Prevention of Workers’ Health: A Literature Review. Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences, 15, 3–7. Online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-022-00158-1

U.S. EPA (2024): Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Online: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality

WALLACE, Lance A. – PELLIZZARI, Edo – SHELDON, Linda – HARTWELL, Ty – SPARACINO, Charles – ZELON, Harvey (1986): The Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Study: Direct Measurement of Personal Exposures through Air and Water for 600 Residents of Several U.S. Cities. In COHEN, Yoram (ed.): Pollutants in a Multimedia Environment. New York: Springer, 289–315. Online: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2243-6_13

WOJNOWSKI, Wojciech – KALINOWSKA, Kaja – MAJCHRZAK, Tomasz – ZABIEGAŁA, Bożena (2022): Real-time Monitoring of the Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds from Polylactide 3D Printing Filaments. Science of the Total Environment, 805. Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150181