Laser printersâ?? dust emission causes more indoor pollution

Aug 01: Next time when you feel any respiratory problem or cardiovascular or any finding of cancer, just check the atmosphere of your office. You may suffer from indoor pollution rather than outdoors caused by the emission of micro dust particles of your laser printer.

Recently the researchers of Queensland University of technology revealed in the study of laser printers that laser printers emit highly dangerous tiny dust particles which may prove a health hazard if inhaled into lungs.

Though researchers could not know the chemical composition of particles but found out that they are the products of the toner an ultra fine powder used in printers in place of ink which is used in Photocopy machine.

Levels of particles indoors were recorded higher than outdoors during work day. Scientists recorded that indoor levels reached as high as 625,986 particles per square inch while outdoors remaining just 178,619.

Lidia Morawska, professor conducting the study was called to check the efficiency of ventilation in a building when she come across the fact that indoor particle levels in the office air increases five-fold during work hours.

Then they identified the source of indoor pollution as Laser printers. Then a study was conducted on 62 brands of printers out which 37 were cleared as non-emitting printers but 17 out of 62 were identified as emitting in a large volume.

Study which was published on line journal of Environmental Science & technology studied popular brands such as Canon, HP colour Laser jet, Ricoh and Toshiba.

Printers using new cartridge released as small particles as by the smoke of a cigarette leading them directly to lungs increasing susceptibility to lungs or heart diseases.

The cause of worry is that there is no regulation in this regard even when most people spend their most of their time indoors in offices.

At present only two things minimize the risk. One proper ventilation of the building is necessary to let the particles out and use of such printers with minimum emissions.

Based on the degree of emissions the printers were categorized into four classes high emitters, medium, low and non emitters.

The result of the study was verified in special laboratory. And re-study showed that particles became thicker and denser on the use of new toner and heavy printing like graphic.

Photocopy machines also emit certain particles but those are not as dangerous as those of printers.

Indoor pollution earlier was credited to the out door ozone or ozone created by the machines which clung to the solvents in the floor cleaners or sprays. All this mixture created new particles which created lungs related problems.

Keep watch on the printer and the ventilation system of your office to avoid the hazard.