Alarming findings: health hazards of laser printers and photocopiers. Laser printers and copiers charge the air with an unfiltered blend of hazardous fine dust, ultra-fine particles and pollutants. When printing, small particles are released which can enter the respiratory tract and the lungs. This may cause serious health damage that show new study on the health effects of toner dust. In Germany alone, more than 50,000 tons consumed toner. Health hazards: Allergies and inflammation of the respiratory tract and the skin is increasing dramatically. Chronic obstructive respiratory diseases are the most strongly increasing cause of death – worldwide! Annual 266.000 deaths due to fine dust loads according to the EU Commission in Europe alone.
According to the U.S. environmental protection agency, the largest health risks emanating from indoor air. \”Laser printers and photocopiers are the worst single source of contaminants in the Office,\” says Michael Braungart, Professor of engineering and Director of the Hamburg Environmental Institute. The Institute for occupational safety and health of the German statutory accident insurance in St. Augustine writes in a technical paper to nanoparticles in the workplace: \”Is that nano-particles can penetrate barriers in the body and in organs, the larger particles inaccessible are expected.\” Contracting authority of the investigation is the nationally recognized Foundation of nano-control, which is under the auspices of the former President of the German Federal Environment Agency Georges Fulgraff. In an attempt at the University Hospital Freiburg responded six subjects already after half an hour in a room where toner printer running with flu-like symptoms: irritation and inflammation of the respiratory tract, swelling of the lymph nodes, sneezing, mucosal redness and swelling, coughing, voice changes and fatigue. Also, possible reactions are inflammation of the eyes and the skin. Toner dust is also suspected to cause allergies and asthma. The long-term consequences of the Permanent Inhaling toner dust were, however, so far still not fully researched.