Office laser printers are as unhealthy as cigarettes and can cause cardiovascular and respiratory problems according to an Australian professor. Prof. Lidia Morawska is now calling for regulations to limit printer emissions after a research team she was heading found some top-brand laser printers releasing potentially carcinogenic toner particles which can get deep into the lungs of office workers.
According to research from the Queensland University of Technology's Air Quality and Health Program 17 out of 62 relatively new printer models that were tested were "high emitters" of toner particles.
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The result was a chance discovery made when a project investigating office ventilation systems found five times as many particles indoors as those produced by traffic outdoors. The emissions were eventually traced to printers using an electronic sniffer.
Surprisingly, the team found that office photocopiers do not emit particles despite using similar technology. Several of the high emitters were HP LaserJet models, although eight other HP LaserJets in the 4050 series printers were shown to have no emissions.
HP said it was currently assessing the study's findings and released a statement saying: "Vigorous tests under standardised operating conditions are an integral part of HP's research and development and its strict quality-control procedures," adding, "laserJet printing systems, original HP print cartridges and papers for dust release and possible material emissions to ensure compliance with applicable international health and safety requirements."
[via ZDnet]
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