Laser Printers: Danger Is My Middle Name

With all the dangers there are in the world, you have to wonder what could be more benign than laser printers? Well, in the spirit of "isn't anything sacred anymore," it turns out that laser printers may not be that harmless after all. And that they have become a controversial item in more ways than one.

First the danger part. Researchers at Queensland University of Technology in Australia say that certain laser printers release particles of toner-like material into the air that we can then inhale. According to Lidia Morawska, 17 out of 62 printers in a recent study were "high particle emitters" because they released elevated quantities of particles at a rate comparable to the particle emissions from cigarette smoking. That said, 37 of the 62 printers released no particles that diminished air quality; 6 released only low levels, and 2 medium levels. The study included popular models in the U. S. and Australia sold internationally under the Canon, HP Color Laserjet, Ricoh, and Toshiba brands.

Most of the printer-generated particles detected were ultrafine, Morawska said, and could pose "a significant health threat." Previous studies have focused on emissions of volatile organic compounds, ozone, and toner particles from office printers and copiers. However, the research left broad gaps in scientific understanding of particle emissions and airborne concentrations of particles, the report noted.

As someone who works at a home office and sits at a desk with a laser printer by my knees, I'm naturally concerned. But as a proponent of the paperless office (which, of course, you wouldn't believe if you saw my office), I doubt that I generate enough ultrafine particles to worry about. Of course, when I do go into the DDJ world headquarters, that's another thing. Laser printers are cranking out ultrafine this and that from one end of the building to the other. So the good news is that, if nothing else, I have another reason not to go into the office.

As for the controverisal side, stay tuned for next Monday's newsletter.

-- Jonathan Erickson

Posted by Jon Erickson at 03:09 PM  Permalink