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Front Public Health

Title:		An explorative study on respiratory health among operators working in polymer additive manufacturing
Author(s):		Almstrand AC; Bredberg A; Runstrom Eden G; Karlsson H; Assenhoj M; Koca H; Olin AC; Tinnerberg H;
Address:		"Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden, Gothenburg, Sweden. Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center in Linkoping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden"
Journal Title:		Front Public Health
Year:		2023
Volume:		20230417
Issue:
Page Number:		1148974 -
DOI:		10.3389/fpubh.2023.1148974
ISSN/ISBN:		2296-2565 (Electronic) 2296-2565 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is a growing industry involving a wide range of different techniques and materials. The potential toxicological effects of emissions produced in the process, involving both ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are unclear, and there are concerns regarding possible health implications among AM operators. The objective of this study was to screen the presence of respiratory health effects among people working with liquid, powdered, or filament plastic materials in AM. METHODS: In total, 18 subjects working with different additive manufacturing techniques and production of filament with polymer feedstock and 20 controls participated in the study. Study subjects filled out a questionnaire and underwent blood and urine sampling, spirometry, impulse oscillometry (IOS), exhaled NO test (FeNO), and collection of particles in exhaled air (PEx), and the exposure was assessed. Analysis of exhaled particles included lung surfactant components such as surfactant protein A (SP-A) and phosphatidylcholines. SP-A and albumin were determined using ELISA. Using reversed-phase liquid chromatography and targeted mass spectrometry, the relative abundance of 15 species of phosphatidylcholine (PC) was determined in exhaled particles. The results were evaluated by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses (principal component analysis). RESULTS: Exposure and emission measurements in AM settings revealed a large variation in particle and VOC concentrations as well as the composition of VOCs, depending on the AM technique and feedstock. Levels of FeNO, IOS, and spirometry parameters were within clinical reference values for all AM operators. There was a difference in the relative abundance of saturated, notably dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (PC16:0_16:0), and unsaturated lung surfactant lipids in exhaled particles between controls and AM operators. CONCLUSION: There were no statistically significant differences between AM operators and controls for the different health examinations, which may be due to the low number of participants. However, the observed difference in the PC lipid profile in exhaled particles indicates a possible impact of the exposure and could be used as possible early biomarkers of adverse effects in the airways"
Keywords:		Humans *Polymers *Exhalation Particulate Matter/analysis Respiratory System/chemistry Surface-Active Agents additive manufacturing exhaled air exposure lung surfactant nanoparticles phosphatidylcholine;
Notes:		"MedlineAlmstrand, Ann-Charlotte Bredberg, Anna Runstrom Eden, Gunilla Karlsson, Helen Assenhoj, Maria Koca, Hatice Olin, Anna-Carin Tinnerberg, Hakan eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Switzerland 2023/05/08 Front Public Health. 2023 Apr 17; 11:1148974. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1148974. eCollection 2023"