Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Uncured Resin Feedstocks for Vat Photopolymerization 3D Printing to a Cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia Dubia)

The accessibility and popularity of additive manufacturing (AM) has increased over the past decade. Environmental hazard assessment and safety data sheets for 3D printer feedstocks has lagged technology development. Vat photopolymerization may have unique risks relative to other AM technologies due to mishandling of uncured monomers/oligomer feedstocks and its decreasing cost enabling uninformed residential use. The acute and chronic toxicity of six uncured resins to Ceriodaphnia dubia was explored. Two-day acute toxicity (LC50) ranged from 2.6 to 33 mg/L and inhibition concentrations (IC25) values for reproduction ranged from 0.33 to 16 mg/L. Cleaning and waste management procedures recommended in user guides could be the most hazardous handling scenario as use of isopropyl alcohol increases miscibility and thus the fate, transport and bioavailability of the uncured resins. Residential users may often be poorly informed about potential toxicity and the need for a plan for use, handling, and waste management of uncured resins.

Automated summary

The accessibility and popularity of additive manufacturing (AM) has increased over the past decade, but research on environmental hazard assessment and safety data sheets for 3D printer feedstocks has not kept pace with technology development. Vat photopolymerization may pose unique risks due to mishandling of uncured monomers/oligomer feedstocks and the increasing residential use driven by its decreasing cost. This study explored the acute and chronic toxicity of six uncured resins to Ceriodaphnia dubia, revealing their potential risks and the need for better information dissemination to residential users regarding toxicity and proper handling and waste management procedures for uncured resins.