Atmospheric Chemistry Program Seminar

 Investigating emissions of ultrafine aerosols from consumer products: A study on 3D printers

Prof. Nina Vance
CU Boulder Mechanical Engineering

ANALYTICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY DIVISION and
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY PROGRAM SEMINAR
Abstract:
It is well established that inhalation of ultrafine aerosols (particulate matter < 100 nm) is associated with adverse health effects, however the extent of people’s everyday exposure to these pollutants is still poorly known. The introduction of novel consumer product applications and processes present the potential to introduce new ultrafine aerosols and nanoparticles to indoor environments such as homes, office buildings, schools, hotels, and hospitals. In this presentation, I will discuss the use of methods at the intersection of air resources engineering, nanotechnology, and exposure science to quantify and characterize people’s exposure to ultrafine aerosols and nanomaterials in everyday activities. This will be specifically demonstrated by a case study on aerosol emissions from 3D printers. The aerosol emission rates and size distributions that can be characterized by this type of work can serve as input to risk assessment models, to guide the selection of relevant particle doses in toxicity testing, and to engineer product improvements or develop regulations to ensure consumer safety.
Bio:
Dr. Marina Vance is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and in the Environmental Engineering Program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Before joining CU Boulder, she was the Associate Director of the Virginia Tech Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology (VTSuN) and Deputy Director of the VT National Center for Earth and Environmental Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NanoEarth). Dr. Vance received her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2012 for studying the release of nanomaterials from the use of everyday consumer products. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Environmental Engineering by the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (Brazil). Her research is focused on applying engineering tools to better understand and minimize human exposure to novel environmental contaminants from everyday activities, especially nanomaterials and ultrafine aerosols.