Airborne Microplastic Generated by 3D Printing

SUNGYOON JUNG, Peyton Thompson, University of Florida

     Abstract Number: 468
     Working Group: Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Indoor and Outdoor Aerosol: Sources, Vectors, Reactivity, and Impacts

Abstract
Plastics are everywhere in daily life, with their extensive use in consumer products. Smaller plastics, known as microplastics (ranging in size between 5 mm and 1 µm), can either be intentionally manufactured or formed through the degradation of larger plastics by factors such as UV radiation and mechanical abrasion. Indoor environments generally exhibit higher microplastic concentrations than outdoor settings, due to reduced dispersion. Indoor air quality is crucial, as people spend more than 80% of their time indoors, and poor air quality can directly impact human health and productivity. Owing to their small size, microplastics can penetrate the human body and potentially contribute to respiratory issues.

Recently, 3D printers have become increasingly common, and emerging studies suggest they may serve as a source of microplastic emissions. Here, we present our preliminary data on microplastic release from 3D printing activities in the Makerspace located in the Marston Science Library at the University of Florida. This space contains ten operational 3D printers housed in a black casing, six of which are equipped with a filter. We placed pre-cleaned beakers in various locations, including inside and outside the casing, to collect fallout microplastics for one week. All samples were then transported to the laboratory for concentration and analysis. The physicochemical properties of microplastics were characterized using a stereomicroscope and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Our preliminary results confirmed the presence of microplastics throughout space, indicating potential particle transport across the room. The major polymer type was identified as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), one of the common materials for 3D printing. These findings highlight that 3D printers can be a significant source of microplastics in indoor environments and underscore the need to develop treatment strategies to mitigate their release.