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. 2024 Apr 17;87(8):325-341.
doi: 10.1080/15287394.2024.2311170. Epub 2024 Feb 6.

Pulmonary evaluation of whole-body inhalation exposure of polycarbonate (PC) filament 3D printer emissions in rats

Mariana T Farcas  1   2 , Walter McKinney  1 , W Kyle Mandler  1 , Alycia K Knepp  1 , Lori Battelli  1 , Sherri A Friend  1 , Aleksandr B Stefaniak  1 , Samantha Service  1 , Michael Kashon  1 , Ryan F LeBouf  1 , Treye A Thomas  3 , Joanna Matheson  3 , Yong Qian  1
Affiliations

Pulmonary evaluation of whole-body inhalation exposure of polycarbonate (PC) filament 3D printer emissions in rats

Mariana T Farcas et al. J Toxicol Environ Health A. .

Abstract

During fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing with polycarbonate (PC) filament, a release of ultrafine particles (UFPs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) occurs. This study aimed to determine PC filament printing emission-induced toxicity in rats via whole-body inhalation exposure. Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to a single concentration (0.529 mg/m3, 40 nm mean diameter) of the 3D PC filament emissions in a time-course via whole body inhalation for 1, 4, 8, 15, and 30 days (4 hr/day, 4 days/week), and sacrificed 24 hr after the last exposure. Following exposures, rats were assessed for pulmonary and systemic responses. To determine pulmonary injury, total protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, surfactant proteins A and D, total as well as lavage fluid differential cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were examined, as well as histopathological analysis of lung and nasal passages was performed. To determine systemic injury, hematological differentials, and blood biomarkers of muscle, metabolic, renal, and hepatic functions were also measured. Results showed that inhalation exposure induced no marked pulmonary or systemic toxicity in rats. In conclusion, inhalation exposure of rats to a low concentration of PC filament emissions produced no significant pulmonary or systemic toxicity.

Keywords: 3D printer emitted nanoparticles; Thermoplastics; inhalation toxicology; printer emissions; pulmonary toxicity; systemic markers; thermal decomposition; volatile organic compounds (VOC).

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Representative images of PC 3D printer-emitted particles onto filters. The surface morphology and elemental composition were analyzed using FE-SEM.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Representative images of PC 3D printer-emitted particles deposited in the alveolar region at days 1 and 30 of exposure. The images were taken using FE-SEM. A: air-control; B,C,D, and E: day 1 of exposure; F, G, H, and I: day 30 of exposure.
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.
Representative images of cellular uptake of PC 3D printer-emitted particles in BAL cells at days 1 and 30 of exposure by TEM. A: air-control; B and C: day 1 of exposure; D and E: day 30 of exposure.
FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 4.
Biomarkers of pulmonary injury in BALF. A: LDH activity; B: total protein. The rats were exposed for 1, 4, 8, 15, and 30 days to air or PC 3D printer emissions and euthanized at 24 hr post last exposure. Values represents means ± SEMs; N = 6.
FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 5.
Biomarkers of alveolar epithelium injury. A: SPA; B: SPD. The rats were exposed for 1, 4, 8, 15, and 30 days to air or PC 3D printer emissions and euthanized at 24 hr post last exposure. Values represents means ± SEMs; N = 6.
FIGURE 6.
FIGURE 6.
Biomarker of pulmonary damage in BAL. A: total cells; B: macrophages; C: neutrophils; D: lymphocytes; E: eosinophils. The rats were exposed for 1, 4, 8, 15, and 30 days to air or PC 3D printer emissions and euthanized at 24 hr post last exposure. Values represents means ± SEMs; N = 6.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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