What I am getting at is why you dont invest into improving your filtration system?
It seems like a more all around solution.
Because I DIYed an exhaust system. For more details read this https://forum.bambulab.com/t/toxicity-of-filaments/10287/23?u=dwdesigns
You have HEPA air purifier and window opened. PETG and TPU are low to moderate risk. You probably should be fine. But it can depend on individuals’ sensitivity to pollutants.
I asked Google to list some common filaments by order of risk. Here’s it for future reference when you may print more types of filaments.
Filaments are ordered below from lowest to highest overall health risk. [1]
- Lowest Risk: PLA (Polylactic Acid)
- Risk Level: Low
- Why: Derived from renewable, plant-based materials (like cornstarch). It emits mostly harmless lactide vapors.
- Concerns: Still emits some UFPs and trace VOCs. Printing at very high temperatures or using modified/colored PLA blends can increase particle and VOC emissions. [1, 2, 3]
- Low-Moderate Risk: PETG, TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
- Risk Level: Moderate
- Why: Both typically require higher printing temperatures than PLA, which produces slightly more UFPs. PETG produces fewer VOCs than other engineering plastics, but heating it can still emit airborne caprolactam or acetone traces.
- Concerns: TPU releases mildly elevated particle counts during extrusion. Proper ventilation is recommended. [1, 2, 3]
- High Risk: Nylon / Carbon Fiber & Metal-Filled Filaments
- Risk Level: High
- Why: Nylon releases caprolactam, a known VOC that causes respiratory and eye irritation.
- Concerns: Filaments with additives (chopped carbon fibers, metal particles, or carbon nanotubes) can release micro-particulate dust and pose unique inhalation or dermal risks during handling and extrusion. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
- Highest Risk: ABS, ASA, and HIPS
- Risk Level: Severe
- Why: ABS and ASA (which are petroleum-based) are classified by health agencies as high emitters of dangerous VOCs, primarily styrene (a probable human carcinogen) and acrylonitrile. [1, 2]
- Concerns: These filaments produce massive volumes of UFPs and volatile organic compounds. They should only be printed in well-ventilated areas or enclosed spaces with exhaust venting. [1, 2, 3, 4]
I find it interesting that you chose to ventilate the whole room instead of going down the route of ventilating the printers.
It is simpler (no ducts and hooks) and more complete solution than only venting the printers. I can have as many printers in the room as I want and don’t need to add to the system.
Mon imprimante H2S se trouve dans ma cave… j imprime du PLA mat ou pure, de l ABS, du PETG, du PC et du PBT principalement…. Je commande l impression depuis mon bureau au rez de chaussée et je ne descend à la cave que pour récupérer l impression ou changer de bobine…. J imprime 4 à 6 fois par semaine…. Je suppose que je ne cours aucun risque?…
Probably low risk maybe approaching none?
Thing is fumes and particles in the air don’t all disappear when prints finish. They linger and take time to dissipate/settle (but particles can be stirred back up just from air currents as you enter the room).
We don’t really know the risk but exposures are easy. Minimize exposure to minimize risk whatever it may be.
But nobody here is likely able to tell you what risk there is in your setup. What we can say is there is probably some but we don’t know how much.
Merci beaucoup, je vais quand même prévoir une filtration de l’air…
I know this is a bit of an old post but I came here looking for discussion of print quality issues with PLA Pure and figured I would mention it here. I bought a few rolls for a project (a set of measuring cups) and the print quality is absolute garbage. The default settings in Bambu Studio are VERY wrong, and i had to dry the rolls for 16 hours and calibrate each color individually for it to even look SOMEWHAT decent.
I’m printing on and X2D–and struggled to even get basic shapes to look right. Over extrusion, under extrusion, gaps, surface imperfection, awful layer lines–I went through almost an entire roll in attempts trying to print a ~100G model.
All that to say–i would NOT use it for prototyping, at least not yet. The default filament profiles that come with Bambu Studio just are not there yet.
Good luck!