Fears grow that laser printers can seriously damage health
/v3-uk/news/1990725/fears-grow-laser-printers-seriously-damage-health
31 Jul 2007, Robert Jaques , V3
Some laser printers release tiny particles of toner-like material into the air that people can inhale deep into their lungs where they may pose a health hazard, scientists have warned.
Lidia Morawska, PhD, and colleagues in Australia classified 17 out of 62 printers in a recent study as “high particle emitters” because they released relatively high quantities of particles, which the researchers believe to be toner.
"One of the printers released particles into an experimental chamber at a rate comparable to the particle emissions from cigarette smoking," the researchers stated.
Thirty-seven of the 62 printers, on the other hand, released no particles that diminished air quality. Six released only low levels, and two medium levels. All printers were monitored in an open office and the researchers recorded data on three laser printers in an experimental chamber. The study included popular models in the US and Australia sold internationally under the Canon, HP Color Laserjet, Ricoh and Toshiba brand names.
Most of the printer-generated particles detected were ultrafine, Morawska said, explaining that such contaminants are easily inhaled into the smallest passageways of the lungs where they could pose “a significant health threat”.
“It wasn’t an area we consciously decided to study,” Morawska said in an interview. “We came across it by chance. Initially we were studying the efficiency of ventilation systems to protect office settings from outdoor air pollutants. We soon realised that we were seeing air pollution originating indoors, from laser printers.”
The study found that indoor particle levels in the office air increased fivefold during work hours due to printer use. Printers emitted more particles when operating with new toner cartridges and when printing graphics and images that require greater quantities of toner.
As a result of the study, the scientists are calling on government officials to consider regulating emission levels from laser printers. “By all means, this is an important indoor source of pollution,” Morawska said. “There should be regulations.”
The research is scheduled for publication in the 1 August online issue of the American Chemical Society’s Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T).
Do you agree?
bunch of BS!
Another BS story. I can tell you personally that this is another tactic to scare everyone.
I've been in the photocopier & printer business for over TWENTY FIVE YEARS. I repair them.
I'm around them day in day out. I've breathed more toner & dust in a week than most people
will in a year. I've had NO health problems, I get a complete checkup once a year. If you are
GENETICALLY predisposed to be at a greater risk for cancer, hell, just about anything will screw
you up. Hell, my grandfather went to france in WW1 in 1918 and started smoking unfiltered camel
cigarettes and continued to smoke them until 1971 when the doctor said that the surgeon general
keep poking his nose around and wanted people to quit. My grandfather died in 1991 at the age
of NINETY SEVEN with absolutely NO cancer!
I have the MSDS (materal safety data sheets) on the consumable supplies that are used in
laser printers & copiers. They have no risks, unless you put the dust from the toner in an
enclosed area and set it on fire....it might blow up (similar to a grain dust explosion).
Once again, some idiot researcher has come up with a study to back some more studies so he
can continue to suckle off of the teat of the government!
You'll get more "health risks" on a copier or printer by burning your f**king fingers on the fuser
unit, trying to remove a paper jam.
Posted by Rusty, 01 Aug 2007
Take it seriously, from a printer tech
I am also a printer tech, and although I have only worked on laser printers for 1 year I have some words of advice for the doubters. I work in a laser cartridge recycling center, which houses a somewhat dirty recycling room for refurbishing toners. Within about 2 weeks of working in the facility I found myself developing a nasty cough. I went to the doctor about 2 months into my employment and found I had Bronchitis. I needed an antibioctic to restore my health. I knew it was because of where I work but the pay is good so I cannot leave yet.
For the person who said this study was BS, take a look here:
http://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=9439.msg70397#msg70397
Some of the printers listed with the highest emissions (HP 1320, 2420, 4250) are fairly new being manufactured within the past years. Some printers listed with no emissions (4000, 4+, 5si) are OVER 5 YEARS OLD.
What might this story point out? That newer printers may be getting increasingly unsafe as they become cheaper, and the health effects may not be fully realized yet.
Final thoughts: Dont throw your laser printers away, just keep following this story until the facts become much more clear. Be well everyone.
Posted by David, 03 Aug 2007
Need the List
Could someone provide the list of safe and unsafe laser printers? The list bookmarked in the comment above lists the some of the same HP printers as both no emissions and high emissions. How can this be? We need the specifics of what the list is. Thanks!
Posted by Greg Jesson, 08 Aug 2007