Office Printers Perilous to Lung Health Says QUT Study
A Queensland University of Technology (QUT) study has shown that emissions from common office printers can pose as much threat to your lungs as secondhand cigarette smoke.
The International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health tested 62 machines and found that almost 30 percent produced dangerously high levels of ultra-fine particle emissions. Once released into the air, the tiny toner particles could infiltrate lungs and cause lasting damage similar to that of inhaled smoke. As one researcher described,
“These particles are tiny like cigarette smoke particles and, when deep inside the lung, they do the same amount of damage. The health effects from inhaling ultra-fine particles depend on particle composition, but the results can range from respiratory irritation to more severe illness such as cardiovascular problems or cancer.”
– Prof Lidia Morawska, QUT
The research found that printers were the most significant source of particle concentrations in a typical office building and that particle levels in office air increased five-fold during work hours as a result of printer use. The amount of particulates dispersed varied greatly depending on the age of the toner cartridge, the printer model, and the printing images being produced.
Results of the printer research are published in the American Chemical Society’s Environmental Science and Technology Journal.
The investigators believe their results highlight a need for governments to regulate emissions from office machines in the same manner they do outdoor devices such as vehicles.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Related Links: BBC News; Medical News Today
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Tags: workplace health; occupational safety; WHO
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