Dangers from office printers

Although the field of research on the health effects of printers is still in its infancy, researchers have shown that laser printers can create a “shower” of tiny airborne particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, posing a long-term health risk.

An expert in the field, Professor Lidia Morawska – Director of the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health at Queensland University of Technology, Australia – started a study in 2007 that found that office laser printers emitted significant amounts of ultrafine particles. “We found that some printers in the office emitted significant amounts, so we moved them to the corridors where there was better ventilation,” she said.

As the name suggests, these are ultra-fine particles, less than 0.1 micrometer in diameter, which means that this size is equivalent to 1 millimeter divided into 10,000 parts. The particle formation cycle is as follows: When the ink and paper pass through the hot printer rollers, chemicals in the form of volatile organic compounds float into the air. These compounds then react with ozone in the air and condense, forming ultra-fine particles. Here, the temperature of the printer plays a major role, the higher the temperature, the more particles are generated. Depending on the type of machine, the printer model or the printer's operation, the amount of particles generated is at different levels.

The effects of these particles are still being studied, but there is evidence that similar sized particles from other sources can have adverse effects on the lungs and heart. Other sources include vehicle exhaust, burning wood, candles and cooking.

To date, there have been no large-scale studies to answer the question of the safety of office printers, so the World Health Organization has not yet issued any guidelines on the safety of ultrafine particles. However, to protect health and avoid possible risks, expert Morawska has advice to minimize exposure to ultrafine particles from laser printers:

• Make sure the office has good ventilation to the outside.

• If possible, place printers that are used by multiple people in a well-ventilated area.

• Avoid standing near the printer while it is in operation.

• People with asthma or heart disease should avoid sitting near high-powered printers.

According to Capital Security