Is your laser printer going to kill you?
Let’s face it, we spend the greater part of our day at the office, and with all the global warnings and pollution news, I personally questioned the health risk of everything nowadays. And if researchers are investigating it might be something to look at, what if laser printers do emit pathogenic toner particles into the air?
So in order to tick off that issue from my worry list I made some research and found that researchers from Fraunhofer Wilhelm Klauditz Institute could calm my paranoia, they stated that “Contrary to numerous reports, laser printers release hardly any particles of toner into the air, but what some printers do emit are ultra-fine particles made of volatile organic-chemical substances”
Also found out that VOCs are present in thousands of products like paints, and cleaning supplies, pesticides, glues and adhesives and even in permanent markers.
My advice to you then is not to paint your office while you’re cleaning it and printing the monthly communiqué and gluing the pictures of the year end party to the bulleting board while writing with permanent markers a huge banner that says: “We are all going to die”, all at the same time.
Seriously now despite the fact that your printer is not going to kill you, it might not be the most brilliant idea to breed deeply on a consistent basis near your laser printer… so get it if off your desk and open the window. Needless to say there are some filters in the market to calm maniacs like you and I but before going of to buy them take into considerations that the same researchers found that “As the ultra-fine particles are not emitted form a specific part of the printer, but also from the paper output, for instance, a filter can only have a limited effect”. Now if all my research didn’t calm your fears do not worry you can always wear a face mask to work every day. Advantages - Make up cost and hair cuts will be less. Disadvantages – everyone will call you Dark Vater for sure.
Last piece of advice - what if you change the printer to your boss’s office? Just a thought…
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