That is not from your printer lol it's fibers from everyday clothing, dust and daily grime that clings to your clothing as you go about your day. My cat had ringworm when we first got him as a kitten, got a black light to inspect him for lesions. I noticed same crap all over the house... before any 3d printer was in the house. In other words, don't worry about it too much 🙂
That's what i was wondering. It might partially be from the printer but playing with black lights I remember seeing a lot of glowing particles too, without having a 3D Printer.
Microplastic particles are definitely a concern. Hard to say if they are a health risk in your house but the amount of this crap in the environment is a real issue.
I was printing 200 prints x 2 hours using PLA 🎉for a school . Husband build a box I stuck my head into large box every two hours to remove print, start new one , then also to change filament, deal with filament issues and level bed. 2nd year in started to get breathless then heart tripped ended in hospital was sick for a further year with a cough also and breathing issues . Finally got a scan where they discovered opacity in left lung. Bronchoscope found loads of inflammation in lungs as well. They named it atypical pneumonia from scans and 3 years on I’m still sick being treated as severe asthmatic with inhalers, steroids and asthma injections. I always wondered if it was the printing that had caused it and if so how would they even detect this as an issue?
It took you 200 prints 2hrs each PLA, total 400hrs 16days to have such health problems? Really sorry. I wonder how the print farm owners running 20 printers in basement feel? The steroids inhalers are dangerous itself, they also state that in leaflet it can cause inflammation in lungs pneumonia itself. Be cautious what you use.
This stuff doesn't just come from the printer. When you take the pieces out, clean them, sand them, remove strings and supports, etc, it creates microplastics. Even using the object and any other plastic object in your house creates microplastics. They've recently found microplastics in every brand of bottled water they tested.
I recommend putting a fan in the window pulling air out, and one pushing air in from another window. go through the room and use a duster and get everything airborne, just so it blows out. take rugs outside, shake them, vacuum all the carpets so you're not lifting all the dust. Set up a containment enclosure just of clear plastic, anything. or even a storage cabinet. Have it vented pulling air in from the room blowing outside. I will now relocate mine and start working on containment. I've noticed since I started, the bed adhesion problems are most likely related to the dust of filaments. I noticed that after a number of prints the prints lost adhesion, but if I washed with acetone I'd get this major smear of white showing up as the dust was liquified. I've noticed after overnight prints a little dry throat. most likely that's the problem. I have a room with closing door and will set up to open windows. I'll have these in the room with ventalation. But then the question is whether or not it's environmentally safe. clean EVERYTHING. then watch to see if it shows up again. The best example would be go a week without printing.
There was a test study done about micro plastics in clothes that make up most of the airborne particles that you find with a black light are usually Polyester or Polystyrene. It is possible that can be filament particles mix with polyester particles. I’d recommend getting a few air filters around the house as they help gather most of the particles
This is definitely something to be concerned about. Hopefully it's not like asbestos and we have to wait 40 years to discover something bad. This needs to be shared.
Asbestos is for all intents and purposes indestructible so there is a very real possibility that these filaments could pose the same problem. Asbestosis is your body's response to the irritation it causes leading to mesothelioma so I would not be surprised. It is definitely a concern. Central Air conditioning systems would transfer the particles throughout the house so that's the transference vector to me.
Does an enclosure actually help? One would think those particles make their way throughout your home anyway when you open the enclosure's door... One would have to periodically monitor and test the environment in which you print to see what effects printing is causing, regardless of filters and enclosures being used.
Ideally what you want is a ventilated enclosure with negative air pressure. When my new printer arrives im going to buy some acrylic sheets, flexible 120mm tubing, HEPA filters a computer fan or two to build a custom enclosure for my printer. Ill run the tubing from my printer to my window with a sheet to seal the rest of the window opening when printing and that way there will be nearly 0 fumes entering my living space.
I don't doubt that its harmful to breathe this stuff in. I'm currently building an enclosure. But I can't help but think there is another explanation for how so much material got in so many places so far away. Is the printer itself filthy? Is the cat transferring everything around?
most likely its on his clothes, hair and body. drive the car with the window down and it blows off you onto the back seat. sit on the couch, it falls on the couch. if true, he's spreading it around the house as he moves
Havent watched all of the vid yet, but have you considered transfer? You, the cat, your wife, whoever, walk through the print area and pick up bits of the dust and transfer it either via touch, or it just being dusted off of you as you walk. Now, yes, its bad to breathe and probably should have better protectiions, but I dont think its blasting your house as bad as you think.
@@Dosalt well, given that a LOT of people keep printers nearby or just stand around and watch a print, Im sure he probably has inhaled a good bit, but thats got next to nothing to do with it being spread throughout his existence.
Okay I walked around with my uv light and my pla filaments sadly don't light up so I don't know how much of that stuff actually floats around. Although the UV light revealed similar strings and other particles you found in your video but it appears to be nylon from clothes and fabric from the couch itself (I pulled out a tiny but long string from it). Obviously I would still only print in an enclosure even when using pla. It also makes the printer a little quieter.
Do you have an Central Air at your home? If so that's most likely the reason it's everywhere even when nowhere near your 3d Printer. Assuming you do, i would shut off the vents for that room, and have the windows open when printing.
A point very well made! However, your scientific study is not well controlled. You haven’t a “no printer control” and as such can not really tell if it is just serendipitous that particles that fluoresce, the same as your filament, exist naturally in your environment. One thing you can do is have a friend repeat this experiment in a home without a 3D printer. Better would be a relatively new home, without a 3D printer, that has had little traffic. There would be much less fluorescent particulate there, in theory, unless the source were other than a 3D printer. Then, if the controls are positive, would leave us with the “what the heck is in the air we are breathing” feeling. I was born to two smokers and raised in the era of tetraethyl-lead in our gasoline so I share your overall concern!
just found your video and i used a black light around my printer area surely enough there were some very bright orange PETG bits around my printer. I haven't found nay in other areas of my home but this really opened up my eyes about thiss health concern. Thank you for your video. I think I will invest in an enclosure now
Thank you so much for making this video for everyone. I was wondering about this very thing and now know it's worse than I even imagined. Thank you so much again and I hope your chest pain is resolved soon and not because of the printers.......I really hope not from the printers. I wish you extreme luck my friend.
Why don't they make a filter kind of of like a saw dust collection bag that one could wash out or so after? I don't think it would be difficult to make for companies and also help vent out the air through a duct next to window? Or if large machine could it also be recycled with enough quantity?
Thanks for all the detail. Welcome to the land of the tiny, it is terrifying.😉 We have no idea what you swim in everyday. I think there are always reasons for caution when you work with polymers. But let me add a few thoughts. We know a lot about micro-plastics exposure. An article published in the June of 2020 (for just one) cited plastics ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier (The plastic brain: neurotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics). Now it is important to remember that "plastics" is a lay term that refers to a boat load of compounds that all have different characteristics. Also that PLA is not polystyrene, polypropylene, etc. Also, Also ;) what you are seeing are "mini-plastics" the things you probably need to be more concerned about are what you can't see, nanoplastics. But there is good news. You are probably much more at risk from environmental plastics, than you are the PLA from your printer. An enclosure is not going to totally protect you, but with the proper filtration should do a lot. However whether or not that makes any difference in health outcomes is unknown. It would really be nice if someone were studying all of the hobbyist 3d printers out there, and tracking health outcomes vs the population. But in the end there are probably a lot more dangerous things you are exposed to. IMPORTANT: (for you) As for your chest pain, I had afib that was undiagnosed for years. Mostly because stress tests and laying flat for EKGs did not trigger it. But laying on my side, eating, did... sometimes. It's super hard to find in some cases, and can appear as anxiety (I would feel my heart racing every time the dentist laid me back to work on my teeth, but I had never feared the dentist). It wasn't until I had 20 minutes of 140+ heart rate one night, that they found it when I went to the hospital. A least get an Apple watch that lets you do a very basic ECG WHILE you are feeling the pain. Or even consider investing in a consumer level ECG machine. Doctors suck at diagnosing chest pain because it is so intermittent. Good luck on all counts. "The Night Is Dark & Full Of Terrors" 😉😅
This is exactly why i bought my 3d printers & have yet to attempt to set them up in my studio, ima get some enclosures & put them in my RV instead so i dont have to sleep in the area
thank you for the detailed video. All 3D printers should be enclosed preferably with fan ventilation. what you're experincing is very common actually for printer owners but the majority of people printing without enclosure just haven't connected the dots yet. Not easy either to spot either when the microplastics so small
What has happened to your chest pain? Did you get that solved till now? Im working in a printfarm and since 5weeks i have chest pain and im coughing, not hard, but reguarly. So im wondering what happened to your chest pain?
I believe it being around the house because the 3D printer is in the house but outside that really makes no sense especially how it is outside that sometimes it's windy and the part with the car did you pick up some of those fibers and get them tested
That's probably going to cost you more than an enclosure, especially over time. Otoh, microplastics are everywhere so if you want to reduce them in your environment, that might help.
Guys i really need an answer for is my 3d printer next to a desk to where i sleep killing me or will give me healthy issues in the future i have an a1 mini i just bought a couple weeks ago and i already got really sick idk if its a coincidence but am really worried since incant put my 3d printer anywhere els on the house
Very interesting, might have to do some uv test myself. Honestly, i never worried about pla. I was told it (pla) was safe. So, i left it at that. I am in the process of building an inclosure for abs purposes though. Surely it cant be nearly as harmful as half the shit the army exposed me to... lol
You make a great point how safe is the safe PLA! In today's world what is safe very little! Are you still 3D printing? Have you found a better safer way to 3D print? I hear the off-gassing is not good, and could be the worst part of 3D printing! Have you been able to clean it up any? What 3D printer are you using now? How is your health??? Peace to you and yours!
I don’t think he will answer, so I’ll give my two cents. I just purchased a bamboo A1 which uses PLA, everything I’ve read says it’s safe without an enclosure but I’m fully aware of burning any plastic and micro plastics making their way in the environment from my research The best solution is a DIY plant growing tent, on its side with an extraction fan and tubing going outside the window. The tent has a flap where you can open it about halfway, this will create a negative negative pressure and suck all the fumes and hopefully most of the micro plastics out the window Also reduces the risk of cooking the motherboard as this printer generally shouldn’t be fully enclosed. I’m sure if you went around to any household with a blue light you will find micro plastics everywhere. It’s everything especially dust. It’s all about mitigation, I have a Robo Vac that vacuums every day. I’m trying to be better myself to vacuum manually and dust wipe down other parts of the house.
Interesting for sure, I personally never felt safe whenever print on my ender-3.. I think im gonna invest in a fully enclosed 3d printer. The flashforge adventurer 4 has a HEPA filter so that might be the best bet.. 3d printing is kinda like vaping.. we don't have enough data on long term effects and this video reminded me of that thanks. Just for peace of mind im gonna buy the adventurer 4 lol.
i built my own enclosures for my printers from day one but not out of fear or even to use special filaments but to keep my cats from being able to get on them but at this point i have a hole wall of enclosures that ive built an after finding out about this i started adding fans with filters just to try to deal with this but ive never actually tried the uv light to see if it have the stuff around. but look into lack enclosures really easy to put together an cheap. i wasnt able to buy them since i dont have a ikea near me but i just took the dimension from those tables an used that to build my own an thats what i use for my enclosures, if they are to small for larger printers just scale the size up to what u need. works out great. also instead of using the plexi glass for all 4 sides i only use it for the doors an use 2 layers of 5mm foam board thats a dollar a sheet at dollar stores to cover the rest an its been great.
Hepa will remove partials but not gasses. You might want to look at a combo of carbon/hepa. They actually make some air filters to place inside a 3d printer enclosure
pla "fumes" from heating contain a lot of these small and micro particles. In home use though you do not get to see just how corrosive it really is. PLA dust particles tend to be crystalline and abrasive. Might not be toxic as such, so casual reading of the MSDS makes it seem safe, however its very bad ti inhale. it does NOT break down. please if you insist on using pla plastics, do yourself and family a huge favor and use an enclosure with a fume extractor.
Doesn't break down? PLA biodegrades into lactic acid (LA) or to carbon dioxide and water. PLA degradation products are metabolized intracellularly or excreted in the urine and breath. PLA breaks down quite easily and is even compostable. It's made from plant starch.
@@LouieCastro3 I know very well what's made from. Doesn't make it a perfect and safe product. Spend some time delving into how plastics are actually manufactured. Chemically changing oil or vegetable Starch into a plastic. It does breakdown. Partially. Into a very fine microplastic dust that is very abrasive. Also some oil residue, both of which are acidic. Or , if you insist , continue to believe in the marketing hype, stay blissful ignorant with your warm and fuzzy feeling of saving the world with your safe green plastic. I've had far far too many years in the industry, manufacturing with PLA as well as many other plastics. PLA is by far the worst. The only plastic that corroded the heavy chrome plate from an industrial extruder screw. The only plastic who's fumes literally dissolved paint from the support structures around the extruder. The only plastics who's oil residue degraded the concrete floors. And the only one that required large industrial filters that had to be cleaned or changed every 4 hours or less to keep them from becoming completely plugged and even the filter canister becoming completely filled and plugged. But you go ahead. Breath deep.
@@LouieCastro3 let me spoon feed you from a manufacturers own data sheet: devel.lulzbot.com/filament/Monofilament%20Direct/SDS/Polylactide%20PLA%20R17009A%20SDS.pdf
Chest pain and feeling short of breath are common symptoms of asthma. Have you had a diagnosis of asthma in the past? If not and the pain started after 3D printing, then there's a chance you're allergic to one of the associated substances. Look for allergic asthma.
Thank you for the video , I think this field needs a lot of research by the experts, we use our printers in closed spaces assuming its safe, but the cost could be extream if we are wrong, Just remembered that I had many unexplained body and joint pains few months ago when i was heavly printing in PETG, could have been toxic fumes but I never linked the 2, now I know, and defently my 3d printer will print in my balcony from now on.
I would think it would be a concern, just natural wind currents in your house could cause the transference or cooling fans on the printer if so equipped. Transference from clothing and such could move it throughout the house also, particles that small and light can be carried by convection cause by temperature differentials even.
I run an Ender3 Pro, 5 Plus and CR-6 Max in the same room. After watching this video, I decided to check the room with a UV flashlight (I actually used 2 different types) and found 1 particle on the floor. None on the printers what so ever. Sorry but I think there is an issue with you printer.
I would have those particles tested to be certain. It could be anything! With so many millions of printers and so many printer farms and gardens out there, you would hear about it. Im no scientist so take make my words accordingly.
I personally am not taking the risk. While there are many who say it's safe, who knows if we'll find out in ten or twenty years that there is a health risk. I have it in an enclosure, since it's in my office/den space, with an air filtration unit that has a HEPA and active charcoal filter. I don't do this to keep the print area warmer, but to filter the air. It vents the air from the top of the enclosure, to pull out the hottest air, and if the temperature inside starts getting too warm, I can turn up the fan. I plan to move the electronics to outside of the enclosure, which will require some re-wiring, but will be better for their lifespan.
If the topic wasn't so alarming I would find this relaxing. Great footage and narration style, I learned a lot. I used to do a lot of disc repair (basically sanding the top layers of discs to buff out the scratches) and would see a lot of dust accumulate near the machine. There is no information or concerns about it online that I have seen, but it is also quite a niche market, so I can relate to your situation of just plain wondering about it with not much research or even other opinions. I decided to just run a HEPA air purifier that is supposed to filter down to .1 microns, in the same room as the disc repair machine. Gave me some peace of mind at least. Good luck with your hobbies and health, Thank you for the video.
I have micro-plastics that show up under UV in my home now and my printer is still in shipping not to arrive for another few days. When it comes to micro-plastics I don't think there's any way of avoiding it. I've read that they have been detected in the ocean (and fish ) a thousand miles off shore. Better living thru chemistry, NOT!
Very interesting and I am starting to worry about this. I have been printing in my house. PETG lately. Last Monday, I was watching closely to optimise slicing settings. As i was watching I got an asthma attack. I am a keen endurance cyclist and sometimes get exercise induced asthma. My wife said, that's because you pushed it on the bike yesterday. Repeat Thursday, but I hadn't been on the bike Wednesday. Same thing, looking at the nozzle and optimising things. Cough cough. I agree that X 2 doesn't prove anything, but previously I haven't had asthma except just after riding. So, moving printers to workshop, building enclosure, purchase expensive filters etc. Your video was very interesting. I love making functional parts, but want my lungs to be in top form.
I would be concerned, if it’s glowing under UV it emitted radio active radiation and particles. Best would be to wrap it into aluminium foil 🧐 #science!
Yeah these things are extremely health hazard you're breathing in that c*** all the time they're not worth having I wanted one tell found out how dangerous they were for your health help especially if not ventilated As you can see everything just gets thrown around into your house very unhealthy
i bet most of the stuff is ither thransported under your feet or on your cloths what get mixed in the wascher with everyones stuff... not playing it down just saying i dont think its straight up floating everywhere straight from the printer. so even with an enclosure its not not help 100%
Geesh man, he's presenting his findings and states that more than once...but let me guess, you probably didn't watch the whole video or listen carefully and came to your brilliant conclusion, because guys like you probably actually do spread misinformation.
I’ve been concerned about micro plastics that are produced by 3D printing and its environmental impact. This video needs more attention.
😂😂😂
Agreed, commenting to help it get a boost. And thank you Gator AM.
luckily pla is biodegradable
That is not from your printer lol it's fibers from everyday clothing, dust and daily grime that clings to your clothing as you go about your day.
My cat had ringworm when we first got him as a kitten, got a black light to inspect him for lesions. I noticed same crap all over the house... before any 3d printer was in the house.
In other words, don't worry about it too much 🙂
That's what i was wondering. It might partially be from the printer but playing with black lights I remember seeing a lot of glowing particles too, without having a 3D Printer.
Microplastic particles are definitely a concern. Hard to say if they are a health risk in your house but the amount of this crap in the environment is a real issue.
PFAS and short chain carbons are probably more dangerous imo
I was printing 200 prints x 2 hours using PLA 🎉for a school . Husband build a box I stuck my head into large box every two hours to remove print, start new one , then also to change filament, deal with filament issues and level bed. 2nd year in started to get breathless then heart tripped ended in hospital was sick for a further year with a cough also and breathing issues . Finally got a scan where they discovered opacity in left lung. Bronchoscope found loads of inflammation in lungs as well. They named it atypical pneumonia from scans and 3 years on I’m still sick being treated as severe asthmatic with inhalers, steroids and asthma injections. I always wondered if it was the printing that had caused it and if so how would they even detect this as an issue?
It took you 200 prints 2hrs each PLA, total 400hrs 16days to have such health problems? Really sorry. I wonder how the print farm owners running 20 printers in basement feel?
The steroids inhalers are dangerous itself, they also state that in leaflet it can cause inflammation in lungs pneumonia itself. Be cautious what you use.
once its in your lungs its not coming out.
This stuff doesn't just come from the printer. When you take the pieces out, clean them, sand them, remove strings and supports, etc, it creates microplastics. Even using the object and any other plastic object in your house creates microplastics. They've recently found microplastics in every brand of bottled water they tested.
Not to mention from all other plastic things you own especially clothing, carpet, rugs, towels, curtains, etc
I recommend putting a fan in the window pulling air out, and one pushing air in from another window. go through the room and use a duster and get everything airborne, just so it blows out. take rugs outside, shake them, vacuum all the carpets so you're not lifting all the dust. Set up a containment enclosure just of clear plastic, anything. or even a storage cabinet. Have it vented pulling air in from the room blowing outside. I will now relocate mine and start working on containment.
I've noticed since I started, the bed adhesion problems are most likely related to the dust of filaments. I noticed that after a number of prints the prints lost adhesion, but if I washed with acetone I'd get this major smear of white showing up as the dust was liquified.
I've noticed after overnight prints a little dry throat. most likely that's the problem. I have a room with closing door and will set up to open windows. I'll have these in the room with ventalation. But then the question is whether or not it's environmentally safe.
clean EVERYTHING. then watch to see if it shows up again. The best example would be go a week without printing.
There was a test study done about micro plastics in clothes that make up most of the airborne particles that you find with a black light are usually Polyester or Polystyrene. It is possible that can be filament particles mix with polyester particles. I’d recommend getting a few air filters around the house as they help gather most of the particles
This is definitely something to be concerned about. Hopefully it's not like asbestos and we have to wait 40 years to discover something bad. This needs to be shared.
Asbestos is for all intents and purposes indestructible so there is a very real possibility that these filaments could pose the same problem. Asbestosis is your body's response to the irritation it causes leading to mesothelioma so I would not be surprised. It is definitely a concern. Central Air conditioning systems would transfer the particles throughout the house so that's the transference vector to me.
Does an enclosure actually help? One would think those particles make their way throughout your home anyway when you open the enclosure's door...
One would have to periodically monitor and test the environment in which you print to see what effects printing is causing, regardless of filters and enclosures being used.
Ideally what you want is a ventilated enclosure with negative air pressure. When my new printer arrives im going to buy some acrylic sheets, flexible 120mm tubing, HEPA filters a computer fan or two to build a custom enclosure for my printer. Ill run the tubing from my printer to my window with a sheet to seal the rest of the window opening when printing and that way there will be nearly 0 fumes entering my living space.
Great video. As someone researching 3d printers, this seals the deal for me - enclosure and lots of filtration needed.
Just imagine how much of that will be in your lungs after daily breathing in and out, scary
I don't doubt that its harmful to breathe this stuff in. I'm currently building an enclosure. But I can't help but think there is another explanation for how so much material got in so many places so far away. Is the printer itself filthy? Is the cat transferring everything around?
most likely its on his clothes, hair and body. drive the car with the window down and it blows off you onto the back seat.
sit on the couch, it falls on the couch.
if true, he's spreading it around the house as he moves
Havent watched all of the vid yet, but have you considered transfer? You, the cat, your wife, whoever, walk through the print area and pick up bits of the dust and transfer it either via touch, or it just being dusted off of you as you walk.
Now, yes, its bad to breathe and probably should have better protectiions, but I dont think its blasting your house as bad as you think.
That was my guess, a lot of it was probably transfer.
If only he could shine that UV light into his lungs then you will believe
@@Dosalt well, given that a LOT of people keep printers nearby or just stand around and watch a print, Im sure he probably has inhaled a good bit, but thats got next to nothing to do with it being spread throughout his existence.
Okay I walked around with my uv light and my pla filaments sadly don't light up so I don't know how much of that stuff actually floats around.
Although the UV light revealed similar strings and other particles you found in your video but it appears to be nylon from clothes and fabric from the couch itself (I pulled out a tiny but long string from it).
Obviously I would still only print in an enclosure even when using pla. It also makes the printer a little quieter.
Do you have an Central Air at your home? If so that's most likely the reason it's everywhere even when nowhere near your 3d Printer. Assuming you do, i would shut off the vents for that room, and have the windows open when printing.
A point very well made! However, your scientific study is not well controlled. You haven’t a “no printer control” and as such can not really tell if it is just serendipitous that particles that fluoresce, the same as your filament, exist naturally in your environment. One thing you can do is have a friend repeat this experiment in a home without a 3D printer. Better would be a relatively new home, without a 3D printer, that has had little traffic. There would be much less fluorescent particulate there, in theory, unless the source were other than a 3D printer. Then, if the controls are positive, would leave us with the “what the heck is in the air we are breathing” feeling. I was born to two smokers and raised in the era of tetraethyl-lead in our gasoline so I share your overall concern!
looking at a neighbors housw or firends house would be the key here
I have a Lux air purifier that I don't use anymore. Now I'm considering putting it near the 3d printer or at least into the same room.
just found your video and i used a black light around my printer area surely enough there were some very bright orange PETG bits around my printer. I haven't found nay in other areas of my home but this really opened up my eyes about thiss health concern. Thank you for your video. I think I will invest in an enclosure now
Thank you so much for making this video for everyone. I was wondering about this very thing and now know it's worse than I even imagined. Thank you so much again and I hope your chest pain is resolved soon and not because of the printers.......I really hope not from the printers. I wish you extreme luck my friend.
Why don't they make a filter kind of of like a saw dust collection bag that one could wash out or so after? I don't think it would be difficult to make for companies and also help vent out the air through a duct next to window? Or if large machine could it also be recycled with enough quantity?
Thanks for all the detail. Welcome to the land of the tiny, it is terrifying.😉 We have no idea what you swim in everyday. I think there are always reasons for caution when you work with polymers. But let me add a few thoughts.
We know a lot about micro-plastics exposure. An article published in the June of 2020 (for just one) cited plastics ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier (The plastic brain: neurotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics). Now it is important to remember that "plastics" is a lay term that refers to a boat load of compounds that all have different characteristics. Also that PLA is not polystyrene, polypropylene, etc. Also, Also ;) what you are seeing are "mini-plastics" the things you probably need to be more concerned about are what you can't see, nanoplastics.
But there is good news. You are probably much more at risk from environmental plastics, than you are the PLA from your printer. An enclosure is not going to totally protect you, but with the proper filtration should do a lot. However whether or not that makes any difference in health outcomes is unknown.
It would really be nice if someone were studying all of the hobbyist 3d printers out there, and tracking health outcomes vs the population. But in the end there are probably a lot more dangerous things you are exposed to.
IMPORTANT: (for you) As for your chest pain, I had afib that was undiagnosed for years. Mostly because stress tests and laying flat for EKGs did not trigger it. But laying on my side, eating, did... sometimes. It's super hard to find in some cases, and can appear as anxiety (I would feel my heart racing every time the dentist laid me back to work on my teeth, but I had never feared the dentist). It wasn't until I had 20 minutes of 140+ heart rate one night, that they found it when I went to the hospital. A least get an Apple watch that lets you do a very basic ECG WHILE you are feeling the pain. Or even consider investing in a consumer level ECG machine. Doctors suck at diagnosing chest pain because it is so intermittent.
Good luck on all counts. "The Night Is Dark & Full Of Terrors" 😉😅
My 3d printer at home has an enclosure and i still see this plastic dust everywhere.
This is exactly why i bought my 3d printers & have yet to attempt to set them up in my studio, ima get some enclosures & put them in my RV instead so i dont have to sleep in the area
thank you for the detailed video. All 3D printers should be enclosed preferably with fan ventilation.
what you're experincing is very common actually for printer owners but the majority of people printing without enclosure just haven't connected the dots yet. Not easy either to spot either when the microplastics so small
What has happened to your chest pain? Did you get that solved till now?
Im working in a printfarm and since 5weeks i have chest pain and im coughing, not hard, but reguarly.
So im wondering what happened to your chest pain?
I believe it being around the house because the 3D printer is in the house but outside that really makes no sense especially how it is outside that sometimes it's windy and the part with the car did you pick up some of those fibers and get them tested
what about a good air purifier
That's probably going to cost you more than an enclosure, especially over time. Otoh, microplastics are everywhere so if you want to reduce them in your environment, that might help.
UFPs are verry smal and almost impossible to filter. The VOCs tho can be filterd with carbon
Guys i really need an answer for is my 3d printer next to a desk to where i sleep killing me or will give me healthy issues in the future i have an a1 mini i just bought a couple weeks ago and i already got really sick idk if its a coincidence but am really worried since incant put my 3d printer anywhere els on the house
is it safe to flash a uv flashlight in your face like at the .50 mark?
Mate have you heard about plastic carpets? Some entire homes have polypropylene carpet! The fibres are everywhere.
Same with clothing.
Makes me glad I got the tent for my Ender 3 V2.
I find it fun how my flat don't look like the 4th of July, if this was true.
Very interesting, might have to do some uv test myself. Honestly, i never worried about pla. I was told it (pla) was safe. So, i left it at that. I am in the process of building an inclosure for abs purposes though. Surely it cant be nearly as harmful as half the shit the army exposed me to... lol
but do you really just want to move through life just piling on toxins? surely there must be a point of overload!
You make a great point how safe is the safe PLA! In today's world what is safe very little! Are you still 3D printing? Have you found a better safer way to 3D print? I hear the off-gassing is not good, and could be the worst part of 3D printing! Have you been able to clean it up any? What 3D printer are you using now? How is your health??? Peace to you and yours!
I don’t think he will answer, so I’ll give my two cents. I just purchased a bamboo A1 which uses PLA, everything I’ve read says it’s safe without an enclosure but I’m fully aware of burning any plastic and micro plastics making their way in the environment from my research The best solution is a DIY plant growing tent, on its side with an extraction fan and tubing going outside the window. The tent has a flap where you can open it about halfway, this will create a negative negative pressure and suck all the fumes and hopefully most of the micro plastics out the window Also reduces the risk of cooking the motherboard as this printer generally shouldn’t be fully enclosed.
I’m sure if you went around to any household with a blue light you will find micro plastics everywhere. It’s everything especially dust. It’s all about mitigation, I have a Robo Vac that vacuums every day. I’m trying to be better myself to vacuum manually and dust wipe down other parts of the house.
Interesting for sure, I personally never felt safe whenever print on my ender-3.. I think im gonna invest in a fully enclosed 3d printer. The flashforge adventurer 4 has a HEPA filter so that might be the best bet.. 3d printing is kinda like vaping.. we don't have enough data on long term effects and this video reminded me of that thanks. Just for peace of mind im gonna buy the adventurer 4 lol.
i built my own enclosures for my printers from day one but not out of fear or even to use special filaments but to keep my cats from being able to get on them but at this point i have a hole wall of enclosures that ive built an after finding out about this i started adding fans with filters just to try to deal with this but ive never actually tried the uv light to see if it have the stuff around. but look into lack enclosures really easy to put together an cheap. i wasnt able to buy them since i dont have a ikea near me but i just took the dimension from those tables an used that to build my own an thats what i use for my enclosures, if they are to small for larger printers just scale the size up to what u need. works out great. also instead of using the plexi glass for all 4 sides i only use it for the doors an use 2 layers of 5mm foam board thats a dollar a sheet at dollar stores to cover the rest an its been great.
I think it is more like having your car windows down 😔, my city needs to improve.
Hepa will remove partials but not gasses. You might want to look at a combo of carbon/hepa. They actually make some air filters to place inside a 3d printer enclosure
i don't remember this episode of CSI: 3d printer killer
New episodes will probably reveal it
pla "fumes" from heating contain a lot of these small and micro particles. In home use though you do not get to see just how corrosive it really is. PLA dust particles tend to be crystalline and abrasive. Might not be toxic as such, so casual reading of the MSDS makes it seem safe, however its very bad ti inhale. it does NOT break down. please if you insist on using pla plastics, do yourself and family a huge favor and use an enclosure with a fume extractor.
So if this is the case, What 3D printer is okay for in home use? :(
@@peachdreamsNone without venting outside
Doesn't break down? PLA biodegrades into lactic acid (LA) or to carbon dioxide and water. PLA degradation products are metabolized intracellularly or excreted in the urine and breath. PLA breaks down quite easily and is even compostable. It's made from plant starch.
@@LouieCastro3 I know very well what's made from. Doesn't make it a perfect and safe product. Spend some time delving into how plastics are actually manufactured. Chemically changing oil or vegetable Starch into a plastic. It does breakdown. Partially. Into a very fine microplastic dust that is very abrasive. Also some oil residue, both of which are acidic. Or , if you insist , continue to believe in the marketing hype, stay blissful ignorant with your warm and fuzzy feeling of saving the world with your safe green plastic. I've had far far too many years in the industry, manufacturing with PLA as well as many other plastics. PLA is by far the worst. The only plastic that corroded the heavy chrome plate from an industrial extruder screw. The only plastic who's fumes literally dissolved paint from the support structures around the extruder. The only plastics who's oil residue degraded the concrete floors. And the only one that required large industrial filters that had to be cleaned or changed every 4 hours or less to keep them from becoming completely plugged and even the filter canister becoming completely filled and plugged. But you go ahead. Breath deep.
@@LouieCastro3 let me spoon feed you from a manufacturers own data sheet: devel.lulzbot.com/filament/Monofilament%20Direct/SDS/Polylactide%20PLA%20R17009A%20SDS.pdf
Chest pain and feeling short of breath are common symptoms of asthma. Have you had a diagnosis of asthma in the past? If not and the pain started after 3D printing, then there's a chance you're allergic to one of the associated substances. Look for allergic asthma.
Thank you for the video , I think this field needs a lot of research by the experts, we use our printers in closed spaces assuming its safe, but the cost could be extream if we are wrong, Just remembered that I had many unexplained body and joint pains few months ago when i was heavly printing in PETG, could have been toxic fumes but I never linked the 2, now I know, and defently my 3d printer will print in my balcony from now on.
Thank you for sharing.
If this thing is spreading all over Iike that don’t know if an enclosure it’s going to work at all
I would think it would be a concern, just natural wind currents in your house could cause the transference or cooling fans on the printer if so equipped. Transference from clothing and such could move it throughout the house also, particles that small and light can be carried by convection cause by temperature differentials even.
I understand your worries. Aren't there better 3D printing methods? Maybe ceramic 3D printing IDK... Tho ceramic is really brittle.
To CONFIRM you fears, you'd need to collect these fibers and send them to a lab for analysis. Prior to that, it's just speculation.
I run an Ender3 Pro, 5 Plus and CR-6 Max in the same room. After watching this video, I decided to check the room with a UV flashlight (I actually used 2 different types) and found 1 particle on the floor. None on the printers what so ever. Sorry but I think there is an issue with you printer.
Fake news perhaps?
Do you have them in enclosures?
Cleaning more than once a week might help, just saying! SMH 😂
I would have those particles tested to be certain. It could be anything! With so many millions of printers and so many printer farms and gardens out there, you would hear about it. Im no scientist so take make my words accordingly.
I personally am not taking the risk. While there are many who say it's safe, who knows if we'll find out in ten or twenty years that there is a health risk.
I have it in an enclosure, since it's in my office/den space, with an air filtration unit that has a HEPA and active charcoal filter. I don't do this to keep the print area warmer, but to filter the air. It vents the air from the top of the enclosure, to pull out the hottest air, and if the temperature inside starts getting too warm, I can turn up the fan.
I plan to move the electronics to outside of the enclosure, which will require some re-wiring, but will be better for their lifespan.
Carbon are going to help with vocs but the UFPs are to small for both HEPA & Carbon
If the topic wasn't so alarming I would find this relaxing. Great footage and narration style, I learned a lot.
I used to do a lot of disc repair (basically sanding the top layers of discs to buff out the scratches) and would see a lot of dust accumulate near the machine. There is no information or concerns about it online that I have seen, but it is also quite a niche market, so I can relate to your situation of just plain wondering about it with not much research or even other opinions. I decided to just run a HEPA air purifier that is supposed to filter down to .1 microns, in the same room as the disc repair machine. Gave me some peace of mind at least.
Good luck with your hobbies and health, Thank you for the video.
I have micro-plastics that show up under UV in my home now and my printer is still in shipping not to arrive for another few days. When it comes to micro-plastics I don't think there's any way of avoiding it. I've read that they have been detected in the ocean (and fish ) a thousand miles off shore. Better living thru chemistry, NOT!
Very interesting and I am starting to worry about this. I have been printing in my house. PETG lately. Last Monday, I was watching closely to optimise slicing settings. As i was watching I got an asthma attack. I am a keen endurance cyclist and sometimes get exercise induced asthma. My wife said, that's because you pushed it on the bike yesterday. Repeat Thursday, but I hadn't been on the bike Wednesday. Same thing, looking at the nozzle and optimising things. Cough cough. I agree that X 2 doesn't prove anything, but previously I haven't had asthma except just after riding. So, moving printers to workshop, building enclosure, purchase expensive filters etc. Your video was very interesting. I love making functional parts, but want my lungs to be in top form.
I’ve been printing for a year and just got an open printer and now I’m definitely gonna be way more careful especially because I print in my room
I'll check my home too, i too print pla
Ask if they can do a gastroscopy or look into your lungs with UV. They Probably can
I'm glad I bought an enclosed printer
In Korea, several science teachers who worked with 3d printer all got cancer, one of them died in young age. It is rising issue in Korea.
what type of 3d printers? PLA or resin or nylon or other?
😂😂😂
Wow
I would be concerned, if it’s glowing under UV it emitted radio active radiation and particles. Best would be to wrap it into aluminium foil 🧐 #science!
I'll just let other people 3D print for me
Lol outside in the driveway...lol now I'm laughing because I know you're trolling...hahahah
Yeah these things are extremely health hazard you're breathing in that c*** all the time they're not worth having I wanted one tell found out how dangerous they were for your health help especially if not ventilated As you can see everything just gets thrown around into your house very unhealthy
You just have a dirty house that's all.
i bet most of the stuff is ither thransported under your feet or on your cloths what get mixed in the wascher with everyones stuff... not playing it down just saying i dont think its straight up floating everywhere straight from the printer. so even with an enclosure its not not help 100%
Time to hire a cleaning lady or perhaps try taking out the vacuum every once in a while.
I think your method and logic is completely flawed. Obviously your wife's purse would not have filament dust...lol
And guys like this one spread misinformation like wildfire...
He is very clear about opening a discussion about the topic and not trying to spread misinformation :)
Geesh man, he's presenting his findings and states that more than once...but let me guess, you probably didn't watch the whole video or listen carefully and came to your brilliant conclusion, because guys like you probably actually do spread misinformation.