1 Topic by Rocketman

  • Rocketman
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Topic: Health Hazards?

Over the winter I developed a cough that has lasted till even now and was given a nose spray which has helped but plan to make another doctor's appt. I haven't printed anything for over a month due to my machine being down currently. I was wondering if anyone else who uses ABS has developed any type of throat tickle or cough since printing with it? I would like to rule things out since the physician assistant claimed "environment factors" as to the cause and it doesn't seem to matter anymore where I am.

2 Reply by n2ri

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  • From: St Louis MO USA area
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Re: Health Hazards?

sounds like the same thing everyones got this spring. eyes are 1st thing noticed being irritated bad from ABS fumes then other symptoms but only while fumes exist seems. pollen is main reason for the current issue

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

3 Reply by Rocketman

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Re: Health Hazards?

I never had eye irritation. Just asthma type symptoms. I have no family history for asthma and don't smoke. I don't think anyone else coughed as much as me this winter leading up to now. Had chest xray done recently for good measures.

4 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: Health Hazards?

I have been printing ABS for nearly a year in my living room in a 630 SqFt apartment and have noticed no health issues.

I read in another post that a lot of the fumes have to do with your temperature. If you have it too high or too low the ABS will release much more fumes. With my filament at 210 I barely even notice an odor.. It is possible you are running your filament too hot. I always run mine at just the needed temp and never assum that temp is the same for another roll. I always test what the minimum temp needed for each roll is.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

5 Reply by n2ri (edited by n2ri 2015-04-30 00:26:14)

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Re: Health Hazards?

got blood shot eyes? walk out side a while then come in and see what ya smell when printing. its like smokers cant smell smoke etc. dry burning eyes and throat are common side effects/symptoms.  but other more serious problems go UN-noticed for long term problems. my mom smoked until age 35 but did not get lung cancer til 65. everyone's body is different.

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

6 Reply by Ghostling

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Re: Health Hazards?

Rocketman wrote:

Over the winter I developed a cough that has lasted till even now and was given a nose spray which has helped but plan to make another doctor's appt. I haven't printed anything for over a month due to my machine being down currently. I was wondering if anyone else who uses ABS has developed any type of throat tickle or cough since printing with it? I would like to rule things out since the physician assistant claimed "environment factors" as to the cause and it doesn't seem to matter anymore where I am.

i've got the throat tickle and cough like you described, i thought it's just the common cold going around... the cough seems to intensify during the cool of the night. On another note, i also have allergy to dust and pollen that makes me want to claw my eyes out..