Laser printers and health

Laser printers and health

Wednesday,22 August 2007 16:4 hrs IST/MALAYALA MANORAMA English edition

As per the air quality researcher Lidia Morawska and colleagues at the Queensland University of Technology, Australia, some home and office laser printers may spew out as much particulate matter as a cigarette smoker inhales, posing serious health problems to the users.

The study, measured particulate output of 62 laser printers, including models from all major brands. Particle emissions, believed to be toner - the finely-ground powder used to form images and characters on paper - were measured in an open office floor plan, then ranked.

They classified 17 of the 62 printers, or 27 per cent, as "high particle emitters"; one of the 17 pumped out particulates at a rate comparable with emissions from cigarette smoking, the study said.

Morawska called the emissions "a significant health threat" because of the particles' small size, which makes them easy to inhale and easily lodged in the deepest and smallest passageways of the lungs. The effects, she said, can range from simple irritation to much more serious illnesses, including cardiovascular problems or cancer.

The research also found that office particulate levels increased fivefold during work hours because of laser printers. Generally, more particles were emitted when the printer was using a new toner cartridge, and when printing graphics or photographs that require larger amounts of toner than, say, text.

Morawska recommended that people make sure rooms at work and home with laser printers are well ventilated.