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Laser Printers Injurious to Health?
Techtree News Staff, Aug 01, 2007 2030 hrs ISTA group of Australian scientists have reportedly discovered that certain laser printers pose a serious health hazard because of the tiny particles they release...
Beware of this silent killer at the work place and at home...
A group of Australian scientists from the Queensland University of Technology have reportedly discovered that certain laser printers pose a serious health hazard because of the tiny particles of toner-like material that they release into the air.
The researchers claim that such laser printers can damage human lungs in more or less the same way as smoke particles from cigarettes.
A third of the printer models studied, including those of Canon, HP, Ricoh, and Toshiba, were found to emit potentially dangerous levels of toner particles into the air.
Researchers, Lidia Morawska, Ph.D. and her colleagues found 17 of the total 62 printers studied to be "high particle emitters"; 37 "zero particle emitters"; 6 "low particle emitters"; and 2 "medium particle emitters".
The toner particles, though miniscule, are capable of causing health problems ranging from minor respiratory irritation to severe cardiovascular diseases and even Cancer.
In the course of their study, the scientists also found that indoor particle levels in office air increase nearly five-fold during working hours due to excessive printer use. Also that printers emit more particles when operating with new toner cartridges, or when printing graphics and images that require greater quantities of toner.
Meanwhile, the scientists have concluded that more study and definitive proof is required before establishing any theories regarding the harmful effects of laser printers.
A group of Australian scientists from the Queensland University of Technology have reportedly discovered that certain laser printers pose a serious health hazard because of the tiny particles of toner-like material that they release into the air.
The researchers claim that such laser printers can damage human lungs in more or less the same way as smoke particles from cigarettes.
A third of the printer models studied, including those of Canon, HP, Ricoh, and Toshiba, were found to emit potentially dangerous levels of toner particles into the air.
Researchers, Lidia Morawska, Ph.D. and her colleagues found 17 of the total 62 printers studied to be "high particle emitters"; 37 "zero particle emitters"; 6 "low particle emitters"; and 2 "medium particle emitters".
The toner particles, though miniscule, are capable of causing health problems ranging from minor respiratory irritation to severe cardiovascular diseases and even Cancer.
In the course of their study, the scientists also found that indoor particle levels in office air increase nearly five-fold during working hours due to excessive printer use. Also that printers emit more particles when operating with new toner cartridges, or when printing graphics and images that require greater quantities of toner.
Meanwhile, the scientists have concluded that more study and definitive proof is required before establishing any theories regarding the harmful effects of laser printers.
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(6) Comments
Rakesh Kapoor
,New Delhi (India), on Aug 02, 2007 10:23 PM
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DMPD Gunanayeke
,Coimbatore, on Aug 03, 2007 09:29 PM
unmesh_s
,Mumbai, on Aug 06, 2007 02:07 PM
Dennis Walthers
,Dallas, on Aug 06, 2007 01:07 AM
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