Harmful? Emissons from printers

Emissions from printers and copiers harmful?

05/25/2014

According to a recent study, health hazards from emissions from printers and copiers are not clinically worrying. The results would not speak in favor of causing disease. Other studies have concluded that the equipment can pose a health hazard.

Reduce annoyance caused by printer operation
From a clinical perspective, health threats caused by printer and copier emissions are not worrying. This is the conclusion of an investigation by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM). Thus, the results would not suggest that high particle loadings from laser printer emissions cause disease. However, BAM nevertheless recommends measures to reduce exposure and avoid exposure in order to reduce the annoyance caused by printer operation as much as possible. For several years now, according to the BAM, there have been repeated reports of health problems when dealing with laser printers. As measurements have shown, many printer models encounter volatile organic compounds and ultrafine particles (less than 0.1 µm) in different quantities.

Complaints when dealing with laser printers
For this reason, BAM, together with the Institute and the Polyclinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine of the LMU Munich Hospital, has carried out investigations with volunteers in a research project funded by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). The study included 23 healthy controls, 14 light asthma subjects, and 15 people who reported complaints about laser printer handling. Under standardized conditions, all participants were exposed to very high as well as very low concentrations of ultrafine particles in a specific room for 75 minutes each. The scientists recorded possible effects using functional, biochemical, psychological and psychometric methods.

Study maps short-term scenario
These methods were selected to cover as many of the complaints as possible, which are typically reported by affected individuals and are verifiable by objectifiable quantities. It was said that only limited conclusions on long-term exposure are allowed, as the study shows a short-term scenario. In addition, there are no statements as to whether there are any effects on organ systems that were not investigated in the study or delayed effects that only become apparent with days off. However, from a clinical perspective, the results are not considered to be alarming and do not suggest that high particle loadings from laser printer emissions initiate a disease process that corresponds to the spectrum of reported disorders attributed to laser printers.

Exhaustion of many particles with heavy metals
However, it is likely to be questioned whether emissions are really that safe. Last year, the NDR consumer magazine had „market“ made aware of the topic. Accordingly, the Federal Environment Ministry had a total of ten printers from different manufacturers on particulate matter emissions laboratory tests, the results of the public, however, withheld. But the editors of the show had approached the highly explosive data. According to the TV magazine could „the sometimes highly toxic emissions are attributed to concrete printer models.“ Some of the printers investigated emit a particularly large number of particles of heavy metals, which environmental scientists and toxicologists call „questionable“ get ranked. In addition, a study by researchers at the University of Freiburg revealed that these substances damage human lung cells. „This can cause cancer“, explained the Freiburg scientists. How dangerous for the health of pollutants can be from such devices, 2006 also showed the so-called toner study. At that time, measurements made by Hamburg specialists revealed that the fine dust levels caused by a laser printer were higher than in Hamburg's most heavily polluted street. (Ad)