IPA - Fumes
Hello,
The fumes production from 3D printing are well known. Every material blows more or less fine particles in the air.
But I haven't seen any discussion about the cleaner (IPA) which we are all using. Quick search reveals it's danger:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK208299/
- https://www.poison.org/articles/2013-sep/inhaling-alcohol-is-dangerous
- https://healthfully.com/dangers-inhaling-rubbing-alcohol-5370826.html
Especially during the cleaning process and still warm bed, we are generating a pretty nice high concentrated IPA dust.
How do you guys handle that?
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RE: IPA - Fumes
Don't drink it and don't huff it. You'll be fine. Anything's toxic if you eat/inhale/inject enough of it.
RE: IPA - Fumes
The question is how do you avoid to inhale it? Do you hold your breathe while cleaning? Do you have a big fan running do blow the IPA cloud away?
I'm pretty sure we are exceeding the recommended 400ppm concentration while cleaning it.
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RE: IPA - Fumes
That 400 ppm is a TC10. Which means it's the concentration at which no more than a perceptible effect on 10% of the population, after 1 minute of exposure. Which is probably nothing more than a cough or so.
You're not using gallons of it; the relatively small amount of 1-2ml will rapidly diffuse anyway. 1mL in about 10 liters of air (probably the volume of your enclosure) is only 100ppm.
Again, you'll be fine.
RE: IPA - Fumes
IPA doesn't give out dust, it is fumes (individual molecules as a vapor). Considering that IPA is used as a medical disinfectant, in small quantities it should be mostly harmless. Just don't huff the fumes.
Oh, your second link there about inhaling alcohol appears from context to be about inhaling ethanol (ethyl alcohol). IPA is isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol), a completely different chemical. (Not saying that it is safer, but only that it is different and the body reacts to it differently. You get drunk from ethanol, not isopropanol.)
The third link has what is probably the best takeaway as it's last sentence:
It is best to use isopropyl alcohol in a well-ventilated area to avoid the risk of improper inhalation.
And, really, that is just sound common sense for any cleaning chemical used in the household.
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RE: IPA - Fumes
Thanks guys, very helpful information. So it's similar harmful like cleaning the bathroom with Chlorox (or any other chlorine based cleaner).
I'm not that concerned. But realized that couple days ago that nobody mentioned that so far. Looks to me like another small item on the list why we should use the printer in a well ventilated area.
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RE: IPA - Fumes
Probably less so. Chlorine products are far more reactive than IPA. It's more on par with windex or household ammonia.
RE: IPA - Fumes
Chlorine products are evil! Use only with good ventilation.
I use 91% IPA every morning on my finger for blood draw. Think nothing of it. 70% for cuts and scrapes - because it hurts.
RE: IPA - Fumes
I work as a medical doctor. And in the hospital we use IPA regulalry on our hand and to clean surfaces. The amount are much higher than you would ever apply to the bed sheet.
Since we frequently use in the hospital I sure hope it doesnt have any long-term effects on our health. I havent done any research so I cant answer that. But my guess is that with those small amount you should be safe.