Additive manufacturing, enabling rapid prototyping and so-called on-demand production, has become a common method of creating parts or whole devices. On a 3D printer, real objects are produced layer by layer, thus creating extraordinary possibilities as to the number of applications for this type of devices. The opportunities offered by this technique seem to be pushing new boundaries when it comes to both the use of 3D printing in practice and new materials from which the 3D objects can be printed. However, the question arises whether, at the same time, this solution is safe enough to be used without limitations, wherever and by everyone. According to the scientific reports, three-dimensional printing can pose a threat to the user, not only in terms of physical or mechanical hazards, but also through the potential emissions of chemical substances and fine particles. Thus, the presented publication collects information on the additive manufacturing, different techniques, and ways of printing with application of diverse raw materials. It presents an overview of the last 5 years’ publications focusing on 3D printing, especially regarding the potential chemical and particle emission resulting from the use of such printers in both the working environment and private spaces.

Office devices can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) partly generated by toners and inks, as well as particles of paper. The aim of the presented study is to identify indoor emissions of volatile halogenated organic compounds into the office workspace environment. Mixtures of organic pollutants emitted by seven office devices, i.e. printers and copiers, were analyzed by taking samples in laboratory conditions during the operation of these appliances. Tests of volatile organic compound emissions from selected office devices were conducted in a simulated environment (test chamber). Samples of VOCs were collected using three-layered thermal desorption tubes. Separation and identification of organic pollutant emissions were made using thermal desorption combined with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Test chamber studies indicated that operation of the office printer and copier would contribute to the significant concentration level of VOCs in typical office indoor air. Among the determined volatile halogenated compounds, only chlorinated organic compounds were identified, inter alia: trichloroethylene — carcinogenic — and tetrachloroethylene — possibly carcinogenic to human. The results show that daily exposure of an office worker to chemical factors released by the tested printing and copying units can be variable in terms of concentrations of VOCs. The highest emissions in the test chamber during printing were measured for ethylbenzene up to 41.3 μg m⁻³, xylenes up to 40.5 μg m⁻³ and in case of halogenated compounds the highest concentration for chlorobenzene was 6.48 μg m⁻³. The study included the comparison of chamber concentrations and unit-specific emission rates of selected VOCs and the identified halogenated compounds. The highest amount of total VOCs was emitted while copying with device D and was rated above 1235 μg m⁻³ and 8400 μg unit⁻¹ h⁻¹ on average.

Introduction and Objective: Ultraviolet light in the UV-C band is known as germicidal radiation and was widely used for both sterilization of the equipment and creation of a sterile environment. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of inactivation of microorganisms deposited on...

Indoor sources of the halogenated volatile organic compounds (halogenated VOCs) emissions into the office air were identified in this study. Mixtures of the organic pollutants emitted from 16 plastics samples or from finishing materials were analysed. The VOCs emitted from the samples were acquired in a small environmental test chamber with the clean air circulation system, at 296 ± 2 K. The VOCs emitted were collected on three-layer adsorption tubes. Identification of the emitted VOCs was based on thermal desorption (TD) combined with the capillary gas chromatography – mass spectrometry technique (GC/MS). The tests identified several organic pollutants and most of these VOCs were chlorinated organic compounds: tetrachloroethene (identified in 68.7% samples), bromo-dichloromethane (in 56.2% samples), chlorobenzene and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (both in 43.7% samples). Concentration levels were compared for halogenated compounds and for some other VOCs (e.g., benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes). The largest emission level was found for toluene (≤181.6 µg m⁻³) and styrene (≤24.5 µg m⁻³). The electric wall switch was found to be the most important source of halogenated VOCs and a 16.4 µg m⁻³ (about 10.3% of TVOC emitted). The felt-backed carpet was the second most abundant (11.1 µg m⁻³), about 11.9% of TVOC.

Pararosaniline hydrochloride (CPR) is a dye used for colouring paper, leather and natural and artificial fibres. It is also used in analytical and microbiological laboratories. It is a carcinogenic substance of category 1B. In analytical chemistry, it is used for detecting the following among others: bromates, formaldehyde, ozone, sulphite and sulfur dioxide. CPR is a dye commonly used in microbiology for staining preparations, for staining bacteria, antibodies or other organisms. In Poland, about 800 employees were exposed to this substance. The lack of methods for the determination of pararosaniline hydrochloride in workplace air makes it impossible to assess the occupational exposure of workers to this substance. For this reason, a determination method has been developed, which allows for the determination of pararosaniline hydrochloride in the air. This method makes it possible to determine the concentration of CPR in the air at the workplace within the range from 0.002 to 0.04 mg/m³ (for an air sample of 120 L). The method is based on the adsorption of pararosaniline hydrochloride present in the workplace air on a polypropylene filter, eluting the substance deposited on the filter with methanol and analysing the solution thus obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (wavelength of 544 nm). Using an Ultra C18 (250 mm length) chromatographic column at a temperature of 23 °C and the mobile phase of methanol:0.1% phosphoric acid(V) (95:5, v/v) at flow rate of 0.6 mL/min makes it possible to determine the content of pararosaniline hydrochloride in the presence of aniline, nitrobenzene and 4-tolylamine. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.17 ng/mL and 0.51 ng/mL, respectively.

The article presents the results of studies performed in order to develop a new method of airborne potassium bromate(V) determination at workplaces. The method is based on a collection of the inhalable fraction of potassium bromate(V) using the IOM Sampler, then extraction of bromates with deionized water and chromatographic analysis of the obtained solution. The analysis was performed using ion chromatography with conductometric detection. The tests were performed on a Dionex IonPac®AS22 analytic column (250 × 4 mm, 6 μm) with AG22 precolumn (50 × 4 mm 11 μm). The method provides for potassium bromate(V) determination within the concentration range of 0.043 ÷ 0.88 mg/m3 for an air sample of 0.72 m3 in volume, i.e., 0.1–2 times the exposure limit value as proposed in Poland. The method was validated in accordance with PN-EN 482. The obtained validation data are as follows: measuring range: 3.1–63.4 μg/mL, limit of detection (LOD) = 0.018 μg/mL and limit of quantification (LOQ) = 0.053 μg/mL. The developed method has been tested in the work environment, on laboratory employees having contact with potassium bromate(V). The analytical method allowed the determination of the inhalable fraction of airborne potassium bromate(V) at workplaces and can be used to assess occupational exposure.