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Dust entry

Metal powder additive-manufacturing particulate

Airborne metal particles and powder released during powder-bed fusion, directed-energy deposition, sieving, de-powdering, and post-processing.

Airborne form

dustaerosolmixed

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

airborne metal exposurerespirable particulate exposureskin contaminationrespiratory disease concern

Evidence

A NIOSH-authored 2026 study of a metal powder additive-manufacturing facility examined dermal exposure, surface contamination, and contaminant migration, noting that the findings support control strategies to minimize exposure and spread of metals.

Source: html-and-pdf ↗ · saved source
page 3 · Objectives · 1
The purposes of this study were to improve understanding of dermal exposures, surface contamination, and contaminant migration in a metal AM facility.

A 2025 NIOSH health-hazard evaluation found airborne particles in a powder-bed-fusion room, personal exposure to multiple metals in powder-bed-fusion and post-processing rooms, and feedstock-powder particles throughout nearly all areas; no sampled personal metal concentrations exceeded their occupational exposure limits.

Source: html-and-pdf ↗ · saved source
page 7 · Our Key Findings · 1
Particle number concentration measurements showed that work tasks increased particle concentrations ... Personal breathing zone sampling demonstrated exposure to multiple metals ... None of the personal breathing zone concentrations of elements exceeded their respective occupational exposure limits.

Controls