EVEN Prof. Marina Vance - 3-D printer emissions
In a recent article published by Chemical & Engineering News, Marina Vance, one of our environmental engineering professors here at the University of Colorado, Boulder, discussed issues with the growing prevalence of 3-D printers and their emissions. 3-D printers have become so popular that affordable desktop versions have become available and have been placed in schools, libraries, and homes. The issue with this comes from when the plastic is melted and printed releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Marina Vance explains that although 鈥淪cientists know that particles and VOCs are bad for health, they don鈥檛 have enough information to create a regulatory standard for 3-D printers.鈥 Without VOCs from 3-D printers being regulated in homes, schools, and libraries people are at risk; in particular sensitive populations such as children.