Research Projects

Internal College of Aviation funding supported a multi-year study evaluating potential particle and VOC exposure risks associated with 3-D printing operations. The work involved student collaboration and resulted in multiple peer-reviewed conference posters and presentations at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exhibition (AIHce), including a virtual presentation in 2021.

ERAU College of Aviation internal funding awarded in 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 supported collaborative research with faculty and a student from the Prescott Safety Science degree program to characterize ultrafine particle, ozone, and volatile organic compound emissions from 3-D printing operations. The research evaluated exposure profiles during printing and post-processing tasks using direct-reading instruments, spatial sampling, and NIOSH EVADE software for task-exposure analysis. Findings identified specific activities, such as resin washing and aerosol spray application, that produced short-term spikes in particle and VOC concentrations, while overall emissions during routine printing remained relatively low. Student-led posters from this work were accepted at the 2019 AIHce, with follow-up analyses accepted for the 2020 conference and subsequently presented virtually at the 2021 AIHce following pandemic-related cancellation of the in-person event.