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3D Printed Objects Found Toxic To Fish Embryos (universityofcalifornia.edu)
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."
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.
The world is made by those who show up for the job.
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.
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.
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???