How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?  

I can see no mention of toxic particles, toxicity referrences were to VOCs.  The paper didn't examine PLA useage.  PLA is frequently used in surgery for internal supports to damaged tissues; it is mobilised and removed by ordinary bodily processes in, typically, two years or so.

The VOC levels recorded were very low, well under one part per million even in a closed space 'though they didn't test ABS which is already recommended to be printed in closed, filtered or externally exhausted enclosures.

Particulates were their greatest area of concern as potential long-term carcinogenetic foci in the respiratory tract.  FDM printing is too new for long term exposure studies but they gave no instances of known cases so the effects cannot be severe.  At the concentrations found owners of print-farms should be taking precautions with filtering and ventilation but in domestic use they seem trivial, far less than those experienced when toasting bread or cycling in traffic.

The experimentors made no mention of dehydrating filament and their printed sample showed some signs of stringing due to moisture. I would expect moist filament to produce significantly more particles than dry, another reason to buy a dryer.

Cheerio,

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

Nano parts come loose during printing.

If you inhale these particles, your body will not be happy.

Filaments produced from oil products not only release nanoparticles during printing, but these are also toxic.

Again, your body will not be happy about that.

Many filament manufacturers do green washing, which makes people think it's ok.

So 3d printing is bad for your health.

Take effective measures to make sure you don't inhale all this shit.

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

Would a Prusa enclosure with their HEPA filter be enough?

If you like, it won't do any harm but HEPA filters will not remove VOCs so don't print ABS without taking the usual precautions.  I would worry more about the pigments than the base filaments. 

Cheerio,

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

ABS is the one I've heard gives off nasty fumes.  ('Hey, it smells like melted plastic in here.')

Never really heard much about PLA/PETg, although the microscopic particles are probably not the best to be breathing.

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

Anyone printing in their basement? That's where I would be printing and there isn't great ventilation.

TBH in a typical basement I would worry more about mould spores.  I sit within arm's reach of my printer when at my workstation and so far have experienced no adverse effects.

Cheeri,

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

My basement is finished and there are no mold issues! The basement has casement windows - which are high up and I need a step stool to get to them. AS I know basically nothing about VOCs (I’m doing more research), the risk is unknown. My grandkids sleep in the basement (it’s a nice space) when they are visiting. Don’t want to expose them to harmful chemicals.

My grandkids sleep in the basement (it’s a nice space) when they are visiting. Don’t want to expose them to harmful chemicals.

You won't actually be printing while they're sleeping, the light and movement may spoil their sleep - and children are likely to spoil prints.

As long at there is an hour or so gap between printing and bedtime anything of concern will have dissipated or dropped out of circulation in plenty of time.

Cheerio,

RE:

Thanks for the reply. You are correct in that i would never print while they are sleeping. When they are visiting I would shut things down the day prior. To quote Blippi (who I get to watch over and over) - safety first.

RE:

I'd recommend caution with any type of 3d printing, including resin. There are so many pseudo-experts who claim they're safe, but I've not found any reputable organization or qualified expert to confirm or refute the risks of 3D printing polution.  This being the case, I naturally side with caution until valid research becomes widely available. So, this is what I do...

My printer is in an enclosure. It is in my garage which is well ventilated. I have a webcam pointing at it so I don't need to stand infront of it, watch and breath in its fumes.  I also have 4 battery operation carbon filters which are specifically designed for 3d printers ( https://amzn.to/3NptN3M) - 2 inside the enclousure and 2 outside. I also have a separate floor standing air purifier with a high efficiency filter. The room has air flow, meaning its not a sealed box for any funes to build up into, and so any remaining fumes are vented outside.

This is all personal choice, and like you I will be showing my grandchildren how to use Tinkercad, Thingiverse and Cura to design and build projects. I think these are great skills for young children to have, but I want it to be safe - this is my top requirement. 

What wouldn't I do?  I would not use a 3d printer in a living space. Everyone has their own preference of course. So for me? I start with safety and work the rest out from there.

Stay safe 😉 

RE:

Those tiny carbon filters which are supposedly designed for 3d printers are rather toys like anything else. DIY fitlers like the Nevermore or nowadays also I think Bentobox, designed for Bambulab are much more capable (primarily because they are designed for easy and regular replacement with affordable active carbon pellets and have much more powerful fans). 

If you have the printers in a well ventilated garage things should be fine though for FDM. 

I do have printers inside the flat, I am really not printing much with my MK3s currently but my 2 Vorons are designed to have internal circulatory air purification (carbon pellets + hepa) but most importantly an exhaust filter that creates a slight underpressure in the enclosure, reversing the air flow, into the enclosure through the cracks, rather than the other way round. The exhaust is purified as well but can be vented via tube out of the window or into a well ventilated room. It seems to work decently well for the smaller Voron where I cannot smell anything at all during print, also no build up of stuff over time. For the large printer I am still working on completing the system. I hope it will work as well for that one too. 

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

My thoughts are you can't go wrong with an enclosure for any type of filament. You can also use a decent air purifier in the room that you print. In my opinion, t's always better to be safe and use something and not need it then to not use anything and end up with issues. 

RE:

MK4 + Original Prusa Enclosure (including filter) user here adding my 2 cents:

Printer is right next to my desk where I spend hours and hours next to it every day, often while printing, and I care about air quality a lot.

Hence I ordered Air Quality Monitor from amazon ( Air Quality Monitor ,Formaldehyde Detector, Temperature & Humidity Meter, Sensor, Detect PM2.5/PM10/PM1.0 for home /car https://amzn.eu/d/9fb7wkl ) and measured VOC levels in whole house, including where printer is (disclaimer: maybe there are better ones + I cant guarantee that this monitor is legit, I saw a guy using it in youtube to test SLS printer fumes, so I followed…) and at least while printing Prusament PLA Galaxy Black VOC levels were lower than in the kitchen cooking dinner. But… again, i havent used it to test air quality printing any other filaments, so cant be 100%… in the end I returned this item (its over £100). 

I also have Dyson purifier which also detects VOCs, tiny bit of dedodorant and it turns “Yellow” VOC sign. If I work with epoxy it always “Red” VOC, so it works, it doesnt give reading - just indicates. Now, while printing Prusament PETGCF for over 4 hours today I sort of noticed getting a bit heavy on my chest, and I panicked and this is how I found this topic. It can totally be unrelated, can be anything, can be my fantasy or covid or cold… but I just happened to feel that. And then because I dont have the device any more that I returned I brought in Dyson purifier in to just check, and its all indicating green colour (not detected) VOC, PM2.5, PM10, NO2 (thats what purifier picks up).

So heaviness in chest is panic attack in this case I suppose (I hope).  But food for thought:

Better still to not be near the printer if possible? -But I want to monitor print process (not via camera) and also I don't have alternative space for it in the house - and i simply like watching the print process, its mesmerising, so its actually perfect location. Where is this all going…. -> maybe an official Prusa Air Quality Monitor add-on would be good idea?

Fan/Filter in an enclosure, as mentioned by other users does not filter VOC anyways, maybe just micro particles, and tbh Im not sure if it doesn't cause more harm than good for the print quality, as it creates updraft inside of print area which to my understanding is counter intuitive (please correct me if I'm wrong) Its closed circulation. I think extract/exhaust would be proper solution. I may try this method in the future (create opening in enclosure and direct extracted air out via duct) but then my worry is if I can keep print zone (inside of enclosure) warm enough if I extract air from it…(I digress, sorry) so for that reason I don't always use the fan/filter while printing (still testing) also, fan is very loud.

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

An update to above:

I have finished the print and opened an enclosure - Dyson picked up VOC immediately and shot to the top of "Yellow" zone. I think I understand better what happened earlier. The story and theory:

During print low volumes of VOC are emitted, which is expected, and if there is at least some small ventilation in the room it will probably dissipate and cause no harm maybe wont even be picked up by sensors, but if using enclosure, concentration of VOC inside multiplies.

I had a few instances during the print where I opened the door, sticked my head inside to have a closer look at print area that had issues and by doing so I must have inhaled a good amount of concentrated particles - not smart. I have done this maybe 3-4 times during this ~5h print and spent few minutes observing from close up. I think this is what caused heaviness on chest. 

I`m used to wearing respirators working with epoxy projects but somewhat it wasn't obvious to me to do same with FDM. Next time I will put a respirator on when inspecting an ongoing print, close the enclosure and leave room to ventilate. Small air exchange in room and Dyson/other sensor to monitor air quality is good point to take away - maybe obvious to many but wasn't to me. And when the print is finished just open window, open enclosure and leave till particles dissipate. 

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

Hi, 

I try to put all my printers into enclosures for this reason (if they do not already have one, like my Voron 0.2) and use air filters with carbon + i have an air exhaust hose I can use (This is for the Resin printers and laser cutter mainly).

I have 3 of those filters running: https://github.com/nevermore3d/Nevermore_Micro  

One v5 and two V6, they work very well!

If you print them with prusa slicer, switch to Classic from Arachne (Perimeter generator) or the bridges will fail! (see: https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer/issues/9074)

In the Prusa Enclosure, I run the original filter but will an extra nevermore soon!

My custom build air quality sensors, show PM 1.0/2.0 and VOC going up during printing (based on material, brand, color, ...).

My smart enclosure usually stops the air filters after the print finishes within a few min to an hour automatically because the VOC and PM values got reduced to normal again -> SO they work, at least for the stuff i can measure 😉

I also have two Air cleaners in the room on top of this, to be sure!

Compared to Resin Printers, FDM is way better, Resin is Toxic! But also with PLA only i would be a bit cautious, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, and co, I only print with filters and air exhaust and good ventilation.

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

My Prusa MINI+ is in basement guest room, close to window for ventilation from time to time.

I just printed baby shape puzzles with PETG, because PETG is food safe:
https://www.printables.com/model/718240-shape-puzzles

I just printed baby shape puzzles with PETG, because PETG is food safe:

As is PLA - but whatever you print will have micro interstices which can harbour bacteria, repeated use may harbour and transmit unwanted micro-organisms.

https://blog.prusa3d.com/how-to-make-food-grade-3d-printed-models_40666/

Cheerio,

RE: How toxic is PLA and PETG printing?

Thanks @tobias-stanzel, your build sounds awesome! I googled Nevermore filters, but in UK I only see few available on Ebay, is there a better place to get them? Also how did you automate them to activate/deactivate upon VOC detection, what sensors are you using for that?

I feel to fully utilise Original Fan need to  transfer filtered air out of the enclosure via provided vent opening

Then transfer it outside via some sort of duct (shown indicatively). 

Or if "Nevermore" filters aren't available as an alternative, to extract directly to a big carbon filter via duct provided, but that makes original fan sort of obsolete. 

Either way... Printed SUNLU PETG today for one hour, opened enclosure and then this happened... so need to take action soon. VOC sensor recommendations welcome!