Laser printer particles as dangerous as cigarette smoke?

In today's edition of How Your Office is Slowly Killing You, a study emerging from Queensland University of Technology suggests that laser printers can emit clouds of ultra-fine particles that compare to "cigarette smoke and motor vehicle emissions." Reportedly, 13 out of 40 models tested were deemed "high emitters" of particles from the toner, and while office photocopiers failed to produce similar results, concentrations of microscopic particles near laser printers were found to be "five times higher than outdoor levels often produced by traffic" in a given investigation. Currently, no efforts have been made to actually study the chemistry of the emissions, but considering that such fine objects could easily sink "to the very lowest reaches of the lungs," we'd say that's reason enough to request an airtight office a few floors underground.

[Image courtesy of Gripguard]

[namgorf @ Jul 31st 2007 5:59PM]

This is great news, where do we sign up for the class action?

[paul34 @ Jul 31st 2007 5:59PM]

Indeed - could use some more information on the chemistry of these particles.

At first, I thought it said "laser particles as dangerous..." and was concerned because I thought someone was claiming things like laser pointers were outputting harmful particles of consequence!

[Rob @ Jul 31st 2007 6:10PM]

Nice.
Sign me up for a class action lawsuit today.
I've been exposed to this high levels of toxics for so long without even knowing it. HP and Canon, it's time to pay up.

Wouldn't it be interesting if people actually start to blame some of their bronchial issues on their laser printers?

[js @ Aug 1st 2007 10:00AM]

Don't forget Lexmark!

[Paco @ Aug 1st 2007 12:09AM]

What no OkiData printers for you? As large as their devices are I expect they put out more crud then anyone else.

[NathanEdm78 @ Jul 31st 2007 6:27PM]

Just perfect,
I've always wondered why I coughed all the time.
I've been running laser copiers in a print shop for 12 years now.

I'm ready to sign up for the class action!

[kjb434 @ Jul 31st 2007 6:33PM]

Another stupid study to worry people. If this causes me live to only 70 versus 100 years, then so be it. At least I didn't live my life in fear over a printer.

I use the same concept regarding: fatty foods, second hand smoke, drinking, moderate drug use.

[Frosty @ Jul 31st 2007 6:39PM]

Its kind of a wash... the years of life lost due to the particles probably equals the years you would have spent waiting for your documents to print if you used an inkjet.

[Burritoclock @ Jul 31st 2007 7:45PM]

So snorting laser printer dust directly into lungs is still 100x safer than driving to work in the morning.

[Rusty @ Jul 31st 2007 10:54PM]

Another BS story. I can tell you personally that this is another tactic to scare everyone.
I've been in the photocopier & printer business for over TWENTY FIVE YEARS. I repair them.
I'm around them day in day out. I've breathed more toner & dust in a week than most people
will in a year. I've had NO health problems, I get a complete checkup once a year. If you are
GENETICALLY predisposed to be at a greater risk for cancer, hell, just about anything will screw
you up. Hell, my grandfather went to france in WW1 in 1918 and started smoking unfiltered camel
cigarettes and continued to smoke them until 1971 when the doctor said that the surgeon general
keep poking his nose around and wanted people to quit. My grandfather died in 1991 at the age
of NINETY SEVEN with absolutely NO cancer!
I have the MSDS (materal safety data sheets) on the consumable supplies that are used in
laser printers & copiers. They have no risks, unless you put the dust from the toner in an
enclosed area and set it on fire....it might blow up (similar to a grain dust explosion).
Once again, some idiot researcher has come up with a study to back some more studies so he
can continue to suckle off of the teat of the government!
You'll get more "health risks" on a copier or printer by burning your f**king fingers on the fuser
unit, trying to remove a paper jam.


Bold

[James @ Aug 1st 2007 12:52PM]

Excellent argument, "I didn't get cancer from toner, ergo toner poses no risk to anybody". ::sigh::... you fail at logic.


Mind you, I doubt the headline is true -- they might do a dozen more studies and prove to a modest standard that there's like a 3% higher risk of some forms of cancer among people who have high toner exposure than those who don't, but I'd be pretty surprised if it turns out to be much more than that. Just don't try to support your ideas with a single anecdote about yourself.

[Rusty @ Aug 1st 2007 2:12PM]

Go back and REREAD what I said. Toner, according to the MSDS has NO cancer causing agents. If you are genetically predisposed to be at risk for cancer, then just about anything could lead you develop cancer

[fahnboi @ Aug 1st 2007 6:34PM]

everyone knows that MSDSs are written by the hand of the Omnipresent One himself, right? ever hear of synergy?

[pokey @ Aug 1st 2007 7:36PM]

Ultra fine toner found is most printers these days that can handle 1200dpi goes directly into your bloody stream if inhaled as they're small enough to fit through our air sac membranes.

[CricketSoda @ Jul 31st 2007 11:34PM]

Interesting development. I don't think I have ever seen anything about regulating the amount of pollution a printer makes. Seems common sense that they wouldn't pollute, but this changes my thinking.

Perhaps I will move my printer to the bathroom instead of having it in my office.

[Hashbrown_Hunter @ Aug 1st 2007 1:34AM]

thats actually a little scary to think about. my printer is slowly poisoning me until I die and all of the printers can rule the world!

...it could happen.

[Vibhor @ Aug 1st 2007 1:53AM]

thats y i stick to deskjets only ;)

[chrisd @ Aug 1st 2007 1:15PM]

is this really the first time you hear about this? I heard the first warnings months if not years ago. I haven't used that kind of printer ever since, or if I do I try to place them in another room where no one will be affected.
some ppl here are just ignorants...

[Audrey @ Aug 1st 2007 10:14AM]

Maybe this is the answer to the problem I have been having. Shortness of breath. X-rays show a scarring in my lower lungs. I attributed it to a flue shot and a chest cold following the shot. Have never smoked and do own a Brother's Lazer printer that sits next to my monitor on the desk. I don't think some of the above comments are funny.

[Audrey @ Aug 4th 2007 12:01AM]

This will confirm my comment. Don't need a live link.

[Mattress @ Aug 2nd 2007 11:02PM]

Just heard about this today when someone mentioned it to me. As one of 2 IT people here i am incharge of the printers and thought it best to at least look into the information avalible. From what i have seen from the 6 different pages of this is that its nothing but overblown garbage. The wording in all these stories makes it sound alot worse the what it is. It is acctually only the equivilent of ONE puff on a ciggarette. Even if your not a smoker your more likly to have health problems from that one ciggarette you tried in high school or sitting next to a smoker and even the supposed effects of these things are overblown garbage.Not to mention they have not even tested the chemical makeup of these particles yet and therefore don't even know if they are dangerous

Its things like this that are making us a race of wimps. Theres going to be health risks with anything we do in life and if we run from ever single one theres not going to be much point in living any more. Not to mention they have not even tested the chemical makeup of these particles yet and therefore don't even know if they are dangerous. If your worried about dying from particles in the air then you might as well just stop breathing all together because there is no other way you can stop inhaling these things.

[Ryan Harvey @ Aug 9th 2007 8:56PM]

Woo!!! Dot-Matrix 4-ever! I knew not giving in the the technology revolution would pay off! I especially like Rusty's comment:

...laser printers & copiers. They have no risks, unless you put the dust from the toner in an
enclosed area and set it on fire....it might blow up

ha! I don't think that helps his case too much!

[Dennis Walthers @ Aug 12th 2007 7:02PM]

A viable alternative to Laser Printers!

Let's face it, laser printers have been filling up our landfills and gobbling up hordes of power for ages. Now that we find out they could be potentially dangerous to our health it is time we have a serious alternative.

Solid ink technology has been around for years but just recently has improved to the point where it offers considerable advantages over laser. Solid ink technology from Xerox offers greater speed, quality, lower cost per print, lower maintenance cost, lower power consumption, is environmentally safe to use and produces no harmful particles like laser.

FreePrinters.com (http://www.FreePrinters.com) is pleased to offer the latest in Solid ink printer technology in the latest free printer programs that also include free on-site service.

It's time to make a change. Why pay for a printer when you can get it for free? http://www.FreePrinters.com

[Brian @ Aug 14th 2007 1:52AM]

Yep, got one of those HP lazer jet 4 printers right here. It's the turbocharged model too. That could explain the bump on the...... oh that's right I forgot, that's my ass. Beam me up Scottie, and use your LAZER !!!!!!!