Berlin (Germany) - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, a German research company that just completed a study on laser printer emissions, reports that volatile organic-chemical emissions (ozone), silicon oil, paraffin and ultra-fine particles are emitted during laser printing. Though they don't go into significant detail on the health-related issues. However, several previous Australian research studies show that the particle emissions are comparable to cigarette smoking. The Australian study also suggests that printer companies should be regulated by the government as their products are often a major source of inter-office air pollution.

There is a particular smell emitted when laser printers are in use. It's ozone, the "volatile organic-chemical" identified in these studies. In relatively high concentrations above 1 ppm, it can cause irritation to eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Most people can smell it in much lower concentrations though, even down to 0.01 ppm. It is  interesting to note that ozone is responsible for the cracking found in old car tires. Modern tires have additives which prevent damage from ozone.

Because of the ozone smell, many consumers were concerned the redolent emissions were either toxic, carcinogenic or both. The studies so far indicate that, while they aren't 100% sure, all of the mechanisms are in place to effectively deliver toxic or carcinogenic particles.


Innocuous paraffins and silicon oils

The studies found that even printers which do not use toner, but rather some form of high heat printing mechanisms (like FAX machines), also emit certain types of chemicals. These gather and collate in the air and form ultra-fine particles of both silicon oil and paraffins.

Silicon oil is innocuous. It is comprised of alternating atoms of silicon and oxygen and is one of the two main ingredients in Silly Putty (with boric acid being the other) which children often eat. It has countless electrical and medical uses as a non-conducting, nontoxic lubricant. Sometimes it is added to cooking oils to reduce foaming at high temperatures. It's also non-flammable.

Paraffin is equally innocuous: It is the name for any of a series of hydrocarbons in the form CnH(2n+2), such as C20H42, which is paraffin wax. Or, the simplest form of paraffin, which is methane (CH4). Other forms include octane, kerosene and mineral oil. The name paraffin comes from the Latin parum and affinis, which means "lacking affinity" or, more specifically, "lacking reactivity." Various paraffin forms are found in all kinds of edible applications, including candies, chewing gums, waxy cheese packages, canning topping, and are used because of their low health danger.


Possibly dangerous toner particles

The Fraunhofer study, which was paid for by "the printer and copier manufacturers in a German Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media, called BITKOM," found that the laser printers emit almost no particles of toner. However, several previous studies found many toner particle emissions.

The previously identified trends indicate also that when toner cartridges are new, they emit more particles than when they are old. Also, when printing heavy graphics or when large amounts of toner are used on the print surface, particle emissions grow.

These toner particles are of particular interest in the medical field, because they are comprised of both extremely tiny and very large particles.

According to a mid-August, 2007 article in the American Chemical Society's semi-monthly Environment Science and Technology journal, the smallest particles can find their way into the deepest lung crevices. The larger particles, on the other hand, are capable of gathering and carrying a multitude of toxins into the body.


Regulations proposed

The 2007 Australian findings were incidental. The researchers were originally looking at alternate sources of pollution. However, during the course of their study, they realized that office laser printers were increasing indoor air pollution by about 500%. These studies found the dangers high enough to prompt a call for governmental regulation.

According to Lidia Morawska, a PhD working with the American Chemical Society, "It wasn't an area that we consciously decided to study. We came across it by chance. Initially we were studying the efficiency of ventilation systems to protect office settings from outdoor air pollutants. We soon realized that we were seeing air pollution originating indoors, from laser printers."

The study indicated the 500% increase from laser printer operations alone. She goes on to say, "By all means, this is an important indoor source of pollution. There should be regulations."


Varying reports

These earlier, reports of the dangers of air pollution from laser printers came out in 2007. The Fraunhofer report was released today. And whereas Fraunhofer indicates the same kind of particles found in the atmosphere as the previous reports, they do not go into details relating to health side-effects.

Since "technical and financial support was provided by the printer and copier manufacturers in the German Association (BITCOM)," we cannot help but wonder why they did not disclose the full health ramifications or to fully describe the particle emissions.

Read more in Fraunhofer's press release, as well as a summary of the 2007 Australian study on Medical News Today.com.

So?`

Dec 02, 2008 16:45     

I don't think anyone is sniffing their printer during the print process. It's just crying wolf to say printing is as dangerous as cigarette smoking.
Anonymous report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -10

Ok, So add a filter

Dec 02, 2008 17:17     

It's not like this is flaming tobacco going through a piece of paper. It should be straight forward to engineer a filter element to capture those particles. Build a Walmart brand air purifier into the side of the machine. If you have a death/cancer wish, you can continue to stay in the cubicle next to the copy machine.
David report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -3

Lazer Printers anre Dangerous?

Dec 02, 2008 20:43     

This was the news I was looking for. Thank you for this information.
Rose report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Is there one of these every years?

Dec 02, 2008 20:49     

We've learned here last year that laser printers emitted dangerous particles. My 1989 LaserJet's manual is telling me that the printer releases ozone. What's new? I suppose a carbon filter at the fan output would be enough. Wouldn't solve the O3 problem though, just need a bit of air for this one.
Meeeee report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

ozone

Dec 02, 2008 21:51     

Ozone (O3) is not a organic compound.
oz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +6

basic chemistry

Dec 03, 2008 01:53     

Ozone is not a "volatile organic-chemical". First requirement for a chemical to be organic is, that part of it is made from carbon (represented as C). Since ozone O3 is made from 3 molecules of oxygen, and there is no C, makes it inorganic compound. Ozone is also one of the strongest oxidizing agent and hence is responsible for all kind of rubber and plastic degradation (also in combination with UV for loss of color in many products. Also paraffin is technically CnH(2n 2), it is not generally used for alkane compounds, but for paraffin oils and waxes. So methane is not really a paraffin.

zgaga report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +9

In related news ...

Dec 03, 2008 10:57     

In related news, office workers across the country begin indiscriminate and horrific acts of printer mauling, a la Office Space and prompting HP to announce a new "non mess you up" line of printers.
JT report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Silly (Putty) Defense

Dec 03, 2008 12:50     

Just because Silly Putty and paraffin are injested doesn't mean the ingredients, in another form, are safe when INHALED. It all may be perfectly safe, but it's misleading to imply that inhaling silicon oil is safe because kids eat Silly Putty. Millions of kids consume asbestos in their drinking water and never develop mesothelioma, does that mean it's perfectly safe to ihale?
Moli report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

reply

Dec 03, 2008 14:52     

what about CO2 printers? laser etched..
evan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Nice

Dec 03, 2008 15:01     

I have sat right next to a big HP lazer printer for years now every day! Great! Jess http://www.anonymity.at.tc
Lovely report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Thats why they have charcoal filters!

Dec 03, 2008 15:41     

that is why copiers, printers, faxes have charcoal filters
ss report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Mr. Big

Dec 03, 2008 15:46     

In the old days laser printers used a different mechanism that did emit a lot of ozone, most copiers still use this tech, but most modern lasers no longer use this mechanism (a highly charged wire suspended above the paper) and instead use a charged roller that touches the paper and does not require the crackling electric charge to pass through the air. Even then, the main problem was for printers in confined spaces and most of those printers did have filters (that most people ignored).

Ozoned report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

"collate" in the air? Is this a play on words? [Yo...

Dec 03, 2008 16:00     

"collate" in the air? Is this a play on words? [You're the first person to get that. At least, to then comment about it. :) -Rick]
Bill B. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Some printers photocopiers stink more than others.

Dec 03, 2008 17:01     

I've got several printers including an older TI Microlaser which emits a tremendous amount of ozone, and an equally old HP Laserjet 4 which is also pretty smelly. It reminds me of car exhaust. I also have a Laserjet 4M which is less smelly, and an HP 4100 which is not smelly at all. My HP 3500 color Laserjet does stink a bit. All of these are in my home, by the way. My nose tells me that photocopiers are also major sources of ozone and airborne particulates. Also letterhead stock may come from your printing company pre-dusted with talc and this gets into your office air too when you run the paper through your copier or printer. The talc dust prevents pages from sticking together and jamming the printing company's presses. This dust is very hard on copiers and laser printers, but administrative assistants don't understand any of this and keep ordering these preprinted letterhead and custom invoice forms anyway. The fine dust gets all over the copier room and into the air. I used to think it was just paper dust, but it's also talc and toner and ozone.

Ruggy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Agree with above.

Dec 03, 2008 17:37     

I agree with the above two comments. If you want to convince people of something at least get your science right.
TheAlchemist report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

There are filters

Dec 03, 2008 18:06     

Every copier I have ever worked on includes Ozone filters. Even the really old ones have Ozone filters. New copiers (glorified laser printers) Produce MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH less ozone than their Analog ancestors. Also newer copiers are tighter and wast much less toner... hence the new studies show less toner particles in the air.
bleh report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0