Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Rachel Bujalski

Sitting next to a printer could rival the same health effects affiliated with breathing secondhand smoke.

Researchers found that some laser printers emit ultra-fine particles that contribute to indoor air pollution. When these small particles are inhaled, they can cause respiratory problems and illnesses such as heart and lung disease or cancer.

In a study published in Environmental Science & Technology, 40 percent of printers emitted ultra-fine particles, 27 percent of which were classified as high particle emitters.

The 27 percent emit such high amounts of ultra-fine particles that the health implications are of great concern.

"Particles emitted by printers, likewise with those from cigarette smoke, are in the ultra-fine size range, and therefore can penetrate to the deep regions of the respiratory track," Dr. Lidia Morawska, director of the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health at Queensland University of Technology, said.

"Increasing numbers of toxicological studies point to the health risk due to the inhalation of ultra-fine particles," Morawska said.

Morawska, Congrong He of Queensland University of Technology and Len Taplin from the Queensland Department of Public Works conducted the study.

"The study of the building was initially based on a different study where we investigated the efficiency of filtration and ventilation system in protecting the indoor environment from vehicle emissions on a nearby busy road," Morawska said.

"Since [then], at times, concentrations inside were much higher than outside. We had to find a reason for this, which turned out to be the printers," Morawska added.

The three investigated ultra-fine particle emissions produced by 62 printers in an Australian office building. After a printer was used, it was classified as a non, low, medium or high particle emitter.

Hewlett-Packard LaserJet printers contributed to 14 of the 15 highest level particle emitters.

Luckily, home printers should not emit enough particle pollution to put many people at risk.

"I would not imagine the particle concentration would reach levels of concern," Rachel Robinson, a research assistant to Morawska, said of printing at home.

"However, if we print document after document for a long period of time, in an enclosed room, then the particle concentrations could reach levels of concern."

Robinson suggests moving printers in well-ventilated areas away from people to reduce exposure to ultra-fine particles.

Also, printers that operate often should not be in areas where many people sit.

This study is one of the first of its kind, so there is still much to discover about printer particle emissions. The chemistry of the particles is unknown. Likewise, there is no conclusive evidence that some printer brands emit more particles than others.

Hewlett-Packard did not respond to questions about the implications of this study.

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