On‐site three‐dimensional printer aerosol hazard assessment: Pilot study of a portable in vitro exposure cassette

Abstract

Workplace exposures to concentrated aerosols are associated with a number of diseases. When assessing air quality, instruments are available for measuring aerosol concentrations and particle sizes in real time. By contrast, air contaminants are collected and brought to the laboratory for biological testing. To our knowledge, no instrument is designed for testing the toxicity of aerosols in real time at the site of exposure. This study involves a pilot study using a portable exposure cassette for conducting on‐site, in vitro toxicity testing of workplace air. The compact design also enables targeted personal breathing zone measurements. Data collected on aerosols generated by a metal binder jetting 3D printer are presented. The portable in vitro exposure cassette offers a new approach to monitoring workplace air quality. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 38: e12030, 2019