Laser Printers Cause Office Pollution

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A study of pollution caused by an unlikely source — the office laser printer — has found that half of those models studied produce worrying levels of fine particulate pollution. The pollution is as bad as second-hand smoke, the researchers said.

Fine particles like these, when they come out of power plants, diesel engines and other major sources, have been the target of a government crackdown in recent years, since studies indicate they can lodge deep in the lungs, causing respiratory illness and even heart disease.

Indoor air quality is often far worse than air quality outdoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and the emissions from toner cartridges at work is one more source that can foul the air. Because chronic exposure to pollutants is the primary concern, cleaning the air indoors is as important — or more — than cleaning it outdoors.

HP, the computer maker, disputes the study's conclusions. To read the company's response, click here.

The choice of printer, at this point, seems to be the primary way to limit exposure. Here is a list of printers studied, as listed by the San Francisco Chronicle, and how they rated on emissions relative to one another:

• High-level emitters HP Color LaserJet 4650dn, HP Color LaserJet 5550dtn, HP Color LaserJet 8550N, HP LaserJet 1320N, HP LaserJet 1320n, HP LaserJet 2420dn, *HP LaserJet 4200dtn, HP LaserJet 4250n (old cartridge), HP LaserJet 4250n (new cartridge), HP LaserJet 5(a) (further study needed), *HP LaserJet 8000DN, HP LaserJet 8150N, Toshiba Studio 450
• Mid-level emitters HP LaserJet 1020, HP LaserJet 4200dtn
• Low-level emitters Canon IRC6800, HP LaserJet 5M, HP LaserJet 9000dn, Ricoh CL3000DN
• Non-emitters HP Color LaserJet 4550DN, HP Color LaserJet 8500DN, HP LaserJet 2200DN, HP LaserJet 2300dtn, HP LaserJet 4 plus, HP LaserJet 4000N, HP LaserJet 4000TN, HP LaserJet 4050N, HP LaserJet 4050TN, HP LaserJet 4si, HP LaserJet 5(b) (further study needed), HP LaserJet 5000n, HP LaserJet 5100tn, HP LaserJet 5N, HP LaserJet 5si, HP LaserJet 5si/NX, HP LaserJet 8000DN, HP LaserJet 8150DN, Ricoh Aficio 2022, Ricoh Aficio 3045, Ricoh Aficio 3245C, Ricoh Aficio CC3000DN, Toshiba Studio 350 *possible high emitter

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