[Risk assessment and toxicity effects of materials used during additive manufacturing with FDM technology]. / Ocena zagrozen i dzialanie toksyczne materialów stosowanych podczas drukowania przestrzennego w technologii FDM.

This paper discusses the potential of additive printing, the risks it poses to users' health (including 3D printer operators) and the effects of chemical substances released during the printing based on the available in vitro and in vivo studies. It was shown that substances emitted during printing with the commonly used acrylonitrile butadiene styrene filament in additive manufacturing might have carcinogenic, hepatotoxic and teratogenic effects, as well as toxic effect on the respiratory system. The latest research on the mechanism of formation of particles and volatile organic compounds during 3D printing, the parameters affecting their potential emission, and trends in reducing these hazards are indicated. The need for the design of more environmentally friendly and less emissive printing materials, as well as strategies for prevention and individual and collective protection measures are emphasized. Users of 3D printers should be familiar with all possible aspects of the threats associated with the printing process. Insufficient data on direct exposure to chemicals and particles released during the use of filaments makes it difficult to build awareness of safe working practices. Of particular concern is the health impact of emitted chemicals and particles from thermally treated materials in one of the most popular technologies for 3D printing, i.e., fused deposition modelling. Exposure of the users to, e.g., plasticizers added to filaments occurs through a variety of routes, by absorption through the skin, by inhalation or ingestion. Available epidemiological data, as well as current experimental works, indicate that such exposure is a high risk of cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis in adults, and cardiac problems and metabolic disorders in children. This review, by identifying potential risk factors, may contribute to reducing the health loss of printer users and improving working conditions and safety, especially in enterprises where additive manufacturing technology is used. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2024;75(2):159-171.

[Dangerous chemical substances--tools supporting occupational risk assessment]. / Niebezpieczne substancje chemiczne--narzedzia wspomagajace ocene ryzyka zawodowego.

The assessment of risk associated with exposure to chemicals in the work environment is a task that still poses a lot of difficulties for the employers. At the same time the probability of adverse health effects faced by an employee as a result of such risks, and the related employer's material losses should motivate employers to seek effective solutions aimed at assessing the risks and controling them to an acceptable level by the application of appropriate preventive measures. The paper presents examples of tools to assist the employer in the risk assessment associated with the presence of chemical agents in the workplace. Examples of guides, manuals, checklists and various interactive tools, developed in Poland and other European Union (EU) countries, as well as in countries outside the EU and international organizations are described. These tools have been developed to meet the current requirements of the law and allow a rough estimation of chemical risk and based on these estimates take further steps to improve working con- ditions and safety.