Beware! 3-D Printers Could be Toxic to Our Health and Environment

The zebrafish embryos exposed to parts from the 3D printer had decreased survival rates, with more than half embryos dead by day three and all dead by day seven.

A report by global market analysis firm Canalys revealed that the value of the 3D printing market grew from $288 million in 2012 to $2.5 billion in 2013 and is projected to grow to $16.2 billion by 2018. Amid the soaring popularity of 3D printers, a new research has revealed that some objects produced by commercial 3D printers could be toxic to our health and environment.

William Grover, assistant professor of bioengineering in Bourns College of Engineering at University of California - Riverside, US, said, "These 3D printers are like tiny factories in a box. We regulate factories. We would never bring one into our home. Yet, we are starting to bring these 3D printers into our homes like they are toasters."

Using 3D Printers Invisibility Cloaks can Now be Created at Home
Anyone who can spend a couple thousand dollars on a non-industry grade 3-D printer can literally make a plastic cloak overnight that masks small objects under specific wavelengths

‘Some objects produced by commercial 3D printers could be toxic to our health and environment. The findings raise questions about how to dispose off parts and waste materials from 3D printers.’

The scientists studied two common types of 3D printers- one that melts plastic to build a part, and another that uses light to turn a liquid into a solid part. They found that parts from both types of printers were measurably toxic to zebrafish embryos, and parts from the liquid-based printer were the most toxic.

The study said, "As the price of 3D printers continues to drop - printers that use melted plastic are currently available for as little as $200, and the liquid-based printer used in this study can be bought for less than $3,000 - they are moving beyond industry and research labs to homes and small businesses."

While the zebrafish embryos exposed to parts from the plastic-melting printer had slightly decreased average survival rates compared to control embryos, the embryos exposed to parts from the liquid-resin printer had significantly decreased survival rates, with more than half of the embryos dead by day three and all dead by day seven. And of the few zebrafish embryos that hatched after exposure to parts from the liquid-resin printer, 100% of the hatchlings had developmental abnormalities.

3D Printed Cast the Next Big Thing in 3D Printing
A new cast is the next big thing in 3D printing which may replace bulky plasters and fiberglass casts

These results raise questions about how to dispose off parts and waste materials from 3D printers.

The findings appeared in the Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

3D Printing Technology in Shanghai Helps Separate Conjoined Twin Sisters in China
Doctors used 3D printing to better understand the anatomical structure and carry out the simulated surgery for separating the conjoined twins.

Source-IANS

New 3D Printing can Produce Five Different Shapes of Medical Tablets and Capsules
The new method of 3D printing uses hot melts extrusion in the creation of otherwise difficult to produce odd shaped medicinal tablets.