Dr. Brent Stephens and the BERG Group Are Interviewed About Their Published Paper Regarding The Hazards of 3D Printers

CAEE's Dr. Brent Stephens and his Built Environment Research Group's paper discussing the dangers of 3D printers was published in the Jan. 7 issue of Environmental Science & Technology. The study says that plastics such as nylon and polycarbonate used in 3D printing produce particles of potentially dangerous materials which the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies as a possible human carcinogen.

Dr. Stephens is quoted as saying that “a good chunk of printers and filaments that are out there we really should be worried about. I think the way people are introducing these into schools and libraries … that’s what should drive some of the concern.”

"The problem, Stephens said, is that the ultrafine particles emitted by the printers, aren’t often regulated. People breathe in ultrafine particles all the time — from things like car exhaust, cigarette smoke and cooking — but it’s the type of particles being emitted that should raise eyebrows, he said."