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3D Printed Objects Found Toxic To Fish Embryos (universityofcalifornia.edu)

Posted by Soulskill on from the there-goes-my-fish-hatchery-makerspace-business dept.

itwbennett writes: Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have found that the parts of two common types of 3D printers are toxic to zebrafish embryos. The researchers made this discovery accidentally when a graduate student whose work involves developing tools for studying zebrafish embryos "noticed that zebrafish embryos die after exposure to parts from the 3-D printer." According to the report, "While the embryos exposed to parts from the plastic-melting printer had slightly decreased average survival rates compared to control embryos, the embryos exposed to parts from the liquid-resin printer had significantly decreased survival rates, with more than half of the embryos dead by day three and all dead by day seven. And of the few zebrafish embryos that hatched after exposure to parts from the liquid-resin printer, 100 percent of the hatchlings had developmental abnormalities."

11 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. Duh! by jbeaupre · · Score: 5, Informative

    The photopolymer resins are usually UV cured. They contain chemicals that spit out free radicals to initiate polymerization. And you don't get a 100% cure.

    The paranoid in me wore double gloves when handling parts with liquid resin. Newer stuff might be safer. But the stuff I used was gene scrambling goo in my mind.

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    1. Re:Duh! by kelemvor4 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm looking for two things: clarification of his sentence structure, and more detailed documentation on the birth defects he's talking about - exposure values, developmental windows during exposure, type of defects, as much data as he can cite.

      I have a wife who is seven months pregnant and a 3D printer that mostly runs ABS. You do the math about why I'm digging for detailed info.

      Keep your parts away from that woman!

    2. Re:Duh! by He+Who+Has+No+Name · · Score: 3, Funny

      I do believe we've already established, in several ways, that it's a bit late for that...

  2. Re:ABS releases cyanide when heated by psergiu · · Score: 4, Funny

    So ... bad news for all the geeks that 3D printed their beverage cups ?

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  3. Maybe not such a good idea by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    3D Fish Tank decor

    http://3dprint.com/61418/3d-pr...

    http://www.advancedaquarist.co...

  4. Re:ABS releases cyanide when heated by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    They are not too likely to reproduce anyway.

  5. Re:ABS releases cyanide when heated by jabuzz · · Score: 5, Informative

    You need food grade plastics to print items that are going to be used in the preparation and consumption of food. As far as I am aware there is no such thing as a food grade ABS plastic. You can purchase food grade PLA for 3D printing however.

  6. Headline fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A more accurate headline would be: "Some 3D Printer consumables toxic to certain fish"

    The toxicity is not an attribute of manufacturing process. It's an attribute of the material with which it's manufactured.

    Sensationalized headlines are in poor taste. Slashdot can be much better than this.

    1. Re:Headline fail by cdrudge · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sensationalized headlines are in poor taste. Slashdot can be much better than this.

      You must be new here. No it can't.

  7. Parts of 3D Printers? by Scott+Tracy · · Score: 4, Informative

    The summary reads like he took apart a 3D printer then threw various components from it in a fish tank. I was left wondering why anyone would do that.

  8. Re:ABS releases cyanide when heated by pla · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can purchase food grade PLA for 3D printing however.

    Hey now, lets not resort to cannibalism here! What'd I ever do to you???