Inhalation of polycarbonate emissions generated during 3D printing processes affects neuroendocrine function in male rats

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) United States Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

Version:  View help for Version V1

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  rd-1069-2023-0 06/19/2025 05:46:PM

Project Citation: 

United States Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Inhalation of polycarbonate emissions generated during 3D printing processes affects neuroendocrine function in male rats. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2025-06-19. https://doi.org/10.3886/E233569V1

Project Description

Project Title:  View help for Project Title Inhalation of polycarbonate emissions generated during 3D printing processes affects neuroendocrine function in male rats
Summary:  View help for Summary Three-dimensional printing (3DP) of manufactured goods has increased in the last 10 yrs.  The increased use of this technology has resulted in questions about the health effects of inhaling emissions generated during printing.  The goal of this study was to determine if inhalation of particulate and toxic chemicals generated during printing with polycarbonate (PC) plastic affected the neuroendocrine system.  Male rats were exposed to 3D-printer emissions (500 µg/cm3) or filtered air for 1, 4, 8, 15 or 30d for 4d/week (4h/day).  The effects of these exposures on hormone concentrations, and markers of function, injury and/or oxidative stress in the olfactory bulb, hypothalamus and testes were measured after 1, 8 and 30d of exposure.  Thirty days of exposure to 3D-emissions resulted in reductions in  thyroid stimulating hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and prolactin.  These changes were accompanied by increases in markers of cell injury and reductions in active mitochondria in the olfactory bulb, gonadotropin releasing hormone cells and fibers and tyrosine hydroxylase immunolabeled fibers in the arcuate nucleus, and reductions in spermatogonium.  PC plastics contain high concentrations bisphenol A and these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the health effects of inhaling 3D-printer emissions may be due to bisphenol A.
Original Distribution URL:  View help for Original Distribution URL https://data.cdc.gov/National-Institute-for-Occupational-Safety-and-Hea/Inhalation-of-polycarbonate-emissions-generated-du/dtz3-sij3



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