Toner Particle Spitting Printers

[unisys12]

I know this has been covered, but it's a new article that actually did test that go far beyond any other articles I have read before.

Particulate Emissions From Laser Printers

[Baphomet]

I have always thought that the most harmful emission from a laser printer or copier was ozone. Hence the ozone filter. I have known techs who would simply vacuum the filters without replacing them not realizing that the paper used in the filter looses its properties over time and can no longer neutralize ozone.

The idea of toner particles escaping from a copier in volumes that would make a difference seems silly to me considering that just by walking outside you are breathing in more harmful particles than what you would find in any office environment. People are just too paranoid in my estimation.

[blackcat4866]

How interesting! I guess we always knew there was fuser oil vapor. But we didn't know about the "ultra-fine toner particles". =^..^=

[cobiray]

OH NO, WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!!!! (just kidding, but not really)

[mjarbar]

I've got a fax machine in for repair that some health and safety nut has put a sign on saying 'all users changing the toner cartridge (this is a sealed unit as we all know) wear gloves as there may be a risk to either broken or unbroken skin'

I am certain that this planet is being ruined by the small minority of parinoid health and safety people who are convinced that they 'just have to save us' from ourselves

Well there's my rant...breath and count to ten...

[fixthecopier]

I worked in a steel forging plant for 13 years, breathing in graphite dust [ think powered pencil led ]. My lungs probably look like a coal miners. If a laser printer can take me down, we are all doomed.

[DadO]

Thers a lot more things that are hazardous then printers/copiers. Why would manufacturers make printers? To kill people? I don't think so.
I think that one cigare is more dangerous for me then to sniff a 15 grams of toner.....that would be many grams of toner in my lungs since i fries 2 boxes per day. I would rather think that manufacturers are trying to make something that will expand our life so we can spend more on toners and new devices No people-no mony and period

[prntrfxr]

Toner Particle Spitting Printers

I think its worse for those who regularly are exposed to machines all day. Those of us who work in rooms where there are test printers running hundreds of copies all day long (we regularly run around 5-10 machines at the same time, and have over 50 machines in the same room) or customers where many printers are run in a small room are most likely to be running a more serious health risk. Also the problem with printers may be greater than copiers. Copiers have ozone filters, but most printers don't.

[ToshibaTech]

Can't wait for my first customer to read this article. Probably will be accompanied with a "see I told you it was getting really hot." Now to our arsenal including "yes, all copiers get hot" we must add "yes it does emit volatile organic compounds into the air, they all do, it's perfectly normal."

[blackcat4866]

Which is more dangerous........??

I had a user once that read an article that photocopiers emit ozone, and that it was causing arthritis, digestive problems, dermatitis, and I don't know what all else. She wanted hazard pay for having a Canon NP-6221 in her office, and paid time off to "recover". This machine ironically was in a maximum security prison.

I was called it to check out the machine and "monitor the emissions". To provide better airflow to diminish the effect of the ozone her desk was to be moved to a larger general population area with better air circulation.

After some thought this employee decided that she would rather take her chances with ozone than murderers. =^..^=

[prntrfxr]

Toner Particle Spitting Printers

After some thought this employee decided that she would rather take her chances with ozone than murderers.

LOL...she took the lesser of two evils.

[paulg]

A few years ago my company had an outside company come in and do some tests for airborne pollution.

The tester brought in when asked off the record said both while seeing the actually results from the measuring equipment suckin in air we had cliped on and those left in various areas of the room. That the risk was minimal.

This was a refurb workshop where toner even though we cleaned every surface as often as possible (every few days at the least)was thick enough to write your name in most days. On the day we had the test we were asked to ensure the amount of tonerand dust we came in to contact was far higher than normal. So we did empty every toner waste box we could find rebulid all the dev units etc.
The dust collected was studied and the results we got back said we were at less risk than if we worked in a flour mill. She mentioned unless the particles were highly toxic it was the density of the particles in most cases which causes the most problems for people.

The lady carrying out the test was not going to write anything but the truth.

After these tests extraction fans were fitted, which did make a diffeence.

Many of the offices that I deal with that complain about dust and what have you I find is actually human/household dust which is not cleaned up. Thats left on the copier/printer. So another reason why you should always clean the machine.