Office Printers May Pose Health Risks

drewmoney writes "The BBC reports on new findings which may have implications for the way offices are laid out. According to an Australian study, around a third of modern printer models release 'potentially dangerous levels of toner into the air' as they are completing a job. 'Almost one-third were found to emit ultra-tiny particles of toner-like material, so small that they can infiltrate the lungs and cause a range of health problems from respiratory irritation to more chronic illnesses. Conducted in an open-plan office, the test revealed that particle levels increased five-fold during working hours, a rise blamed on printer use. '"

Comments

No worries - they still have a perfect scapegoat

[Penguinisto]

Smog (you should see a typical Chinese city nowadays - it's downright chewable), Toxic fumes from nearly every type of mechanical combustion and any outdoor process that stirs up dust, now this... and yet the news is still soaked with how 'those eeevil smokers' are out to kill us all with their eeevil second-hand smoke.

Will this study form a new scapegoat? Nah. It's easier to simply blame people who partake of a particular vice, especially since it's politically correct to hate anyone who participates in it.

On a less grouchy rantish side, where are the toner particulate measurements taken on average, anyway? The nearest printers in my office are 20 meters away...

/P

Re:Obvious

[trolltalk.com]

"e latter is a known health hazard on par with glass dust and asbestos. Just look at any IT health and safety handbook under "dealing with toner spillages". It is supposed to be collected using specialised vacuum cleaners, you have to have the floor tiles replaced and so on. Unfortunately very few people follow these procedures."

Lovely - now some "terr'rist dickhead" will bring toner onto airplanes in 3 oz bottles, to give the TSA a reason to ban ALL containers! Scary stuff.

Seriously, if you've ever spilled even a bit of toner, that stuff is almost impossible to clean up.