This month, UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights highlights new 3D printing emissions research, community engagement on campus, and emerging conversations in environmental health. Keep reading to dive into research and insights that explore the connections between environmental exposures and health.

Metal composite filaments are expanding what’s possible in 3D printing, but what do we know about the emissions they generate? In this new study, Chemical Insights researchers characterized particle and chemical emissions from five metal composite filaments and evaluated how ventilation and other environmental factors may influence exposure.

The findings provide new insights into the types of airborne emissions associated with metal composite 3D printing and highlight practical considerations for safer use.

Check out the study to see what researchers found and how to protect indoor air quality as 3D printing continues to evolve.

Chemical Insights recently participated in Purdue University’s “Clear the Air & Unplug: A Boilermaker Wellness Workshop,” bringing research-based perspectives on vaping directly to a student audience. Through educational outreach and a multidisciplinary expert panel, our team helped translate scientific findings into engaging, accessible conversations for students. The event highlighted the value of meeting students where they are and using science to support informed decision-making around public health.

Read our blog to learn more about our collaboration with Purdue University and how we translate vaping research into meaningful community engagement.

A growing body of research shows that the environmental exposures encountered throughout someone’s life, also known as the exposome, can impact health in ways scientists are still working to understand. In a new video podcast, Chemical Insights researchers discuss emerging research focused on measuring and evaluating those exposures and explain how advances in exposure science are helping uncover new insights into the relationship between our environment and long-term health.

Watch the conversation to learn why researchers are taking a closer look at the exposome and what it could mean for the future of health research.

As valued members within the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), we are proud to highlight the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) and the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI). CHI strengthens communities and systems with trusted analysis and collaborative solutions to improve health. We have partnered with CHI on research and educational outreach initiatives. MPHI is dedicated to improving health and well-being through collaboration and community-driven solutions. Last month, MPHI hosted a webinar that brought experts from CHI, NNPHI, and Chemical Insights together to share findings and discuss strategies for supporting vulnerable communities impacted by wildfire events. We are grateful for our partnerships with CHI and MPHI as we continue building more resilient communities.

Podcasts

• “From Chemical Exposure to Disease: The Science of the Human Exposome“

• “Thermal Runaway: Fires, Emissions, and the Challenges for Responders“

Scientific Journal Publication

• “Characterization of Particle and Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Material Extrusion 3D Printing Using Metal Composite Filaments“

Blog

• “Purdue Vaping Panel: What Students Need to Know“

Educational Handout

• “How to Use 3D Printers Safely in Schools“

Educational Handout

• “How to Use 3D Printers Safely in Schools“

Upcoming Events

• ISES 2026 Annual Meeting, October 4-8, 2026:
  • Presentation | “Beyond the Logo: Advancing the Exposome Through Collaborative Exposure Science at UL Research Institutes”
  • Poster | “Toxicity of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from a Dental 3D Printing Resin in a Human Alveolar Tissue Model”
  • Poster | “Exposure to Particulate Matter and Metals During Controlled Burns of Electric Vehicles”
  • Poster | “Chemical Characterization of Gas and Particle-Phase Emissions from Full-Scale Electric Vehicle Fires: Implications for Emerging Exposure Risks”
  • Presentation | “Physicochemical and Toxicological Characterization of Particle Emissions Collected from Electric Vehicle Fires”
  • Poster | “Mobility-Aid Battery Thermal Runaway Emissions Profile and The Impacts of Fire Suppression System”
  • Presentation | “Leveraging Non-Targeted Analysis of Human Biomonitoring Data to Advance Exposure Assessment”
  • Poster | “The CIExpo Portfolio: Integrating Exposure Data from Source to Intake”
  • Symposium | “AI and Machine Learning in Exposure Science – Part 1: Approaches”
  • Poster | “The Ingredients You Can’t Read: Expanding Access to Consumer Product Chemical Data”
  • Symposium | “Estimating and Monitoring Wildfire Smoke Exposure”
  • Poster | “Integrating Chemical Profiling and Monte Carlo Modeling for Multi-Route Exposure Risk Assessment of Cosmetic Spray Products”
  • Presentation | “Systematic Framework for Exposure Reconstruction from Biomarker Data”

• Environmental Data Science Connect Symposium, October 16, 2026 | Presentation, “Informatic Tools to Rapidly Inform Chemical Risk”

• 2026 National Toxicology Congress of the Chinese Society of Toxicology, October 17-29, 2026 | Presentation, “Vape or Not to Vape: How Vaping Reshapes the Subgingival Microbiome and Periodontal Health”

• ASCCT 15^th Annual Meeting:
  • Plenary Session | “All Toxicology Models Are Wrong, But Some Are Useful: Reliability, Relevance, and the Path Toward Rational Application in Decision-Making”
  • Panel Presentation and Discussion | “Lessons from Mining High-Throughput Transcriptomic Data Covering Multiple Cell Lines and Hundreds of Chemicals”
  • Panel Presentation and Discussion | “Integration of New Approach Methods to the Identification of Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals”
  • Poster | “From Unstructured Evidence to Trusted Chemical Safety Data: Using AI to Extract, Harmonize, and Trace Chemical Safety Evidence at Scale”
  • Poster | “A Research Environment for Interactive and Automated Computational Workflows”
  • Poster | “Navigator: Supporting NAMs-Informed Chemical Safety Assessment Through Integrated Data Access”
  • Poster | “Chemical Insights’ Informatics Workbench (CIIW): Integrating Curation Workflows and Tools for Use Across Data Domains”
  • Poster | “Dissemination of Chemical Safety Information – Ensuring Accuracy, Increasing Efficiency, and Expanding Reach”
  • Poster | “Toxicokinetic NAMs Allow Multiroute Chemical Risk Prioritization”

• AAAR 44^th Annual Conference, October 26-30, 2026:
  • Poster | “Chemical Characterization of Gas and Particle-Phase Emissions from Full-Scale Electric Vehicle Fires: Implications for Emerging Exposure Risks”
  • Poster | “A Trial Methodology Towards Airborne Nanoparticle Analysis Using Single-Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry”
  • Poster | “Characterization of Particulate Matter and Heavy Metal Emissions During Electric Vehicle Fires”

• SETAC North America 47th Annual Meeting, November 2-5, 2026:
  • Presentation | “A Workflow for Harmonization of Non-Targeted Analysis Data in Support of Downstream Analytics”
  • Exhibit | “Advancing Non-Targeted Analysis: Integrating Analytical Rigor, Informatics Innovation and Risk Assessment for Exposure Characterization”
  • Exhibit | “Beyond the Usual Suspects: Exploring Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Uncommon Systems
  • Workshop | “Advancing Risk-Based Decisions Through Exposure and Dosimetry Modeling
  • Poster | “Temperature and Relative Humidity as Drivers of Volatile Organic Compound and Aldehyde Emissions from Flooring Materials and Their Installation Systems”

• IFMA World Workplace , November 17-20, 2026:
  • Podcast | “Lithium-Ion Battery Safety: What FMs Need to Know”
  • Panel Presentation and Discussion | “When Natural Disasters Become Normal: FM Readiness, Response and Recovery”
  • Panel Presentation and Discussion | “Charged and Unprepared: Lithium-Ion Battery Risk, Response, and Recovery”