Is Sitting Next To A Photocopier Bad For You

According to recent studies, being near an electric typewriter may be just as hazardous to your health as secondhand smoke.

Sixty-two laser printers were tested for emissions by scientists at the Queensland Institute of Technology throughout Brisbane, Australia. They found that 27 per cent of them released excessive levels of particle pollution when they were operating.

We zeroed in on things that were a micrometre or smaller in size. These are difficult for the lungs to remove and may have adverse health effects over time.

The team's original goal was to determine how different levels of open-air particulate pollution would affect the air quality inside an indoor work environment. They had hoped the air quality would be significantly lower inside. But, on the other hand, they discovered that it was three times as bad, on average, during working hours.

After determining that certain printers were to blame, they conducted tests in a workplace and an isolated room to determine how each machine affected air quality. According to the study's authors, the worst-emitting printer released particles into the air, similar to those produced because of an average chain smoker. So it appears that it might be a high-risk proposition.

Scientists still have not conducted a full chemical analysis. Still, such particles likely originate from toner, the black powder material used by laser printers to create images on paper.

Some printers were better than others, though. Sixty per cent of them gave off absolutely zero particle emissions. There were only eight "low emitters" and thirteen "high emitters" among the printers we tested. There was no evidence suggesting that one brand was inherently inferior to the rest.

More research is required to establish a link to adverse health effects. But, on the other hand, if the findings hold up, governments may start thinking about regulating the levels of particulate emissions from laser printers.

How Dangerous Is Sitting Close to a Copy Machine?

Constant exposure to the office environment produced by some of these machines poses health risks, even though they were designed to make our lives easier. For example, Xerography is the method used by most photocopiers. It involves applying a positive charge to a drum within the machine to permanently imprint an image onto the drum. The image is transferred to the paper as it is fed through the drum. In addition to producing heat and discharging particles into the air, this process can also release ultraviolet light into the atmosphere.

Contaminants

In a recent research, the Department of Labor found that copy machines were a significant source of IAQ problems in offices. Spirit duplicators release methyl alcohol, blueprint copiers release ammonia and acetic acid, and photocopiers release ozone, all contaminants. While using a dry copier, the toner powder can go airborne. Even healthy people can have problems due to these toxins, but those with respiratory ailments are at the greatest risk. Coughing and sneezing are the most typical signs. In addition, you should be aware that some toners have carcinogenic qualities and should be avoided at all costs.

Ultraviolet Light

Copies are made using a lamp that emits both ultraviolet and visible light. The ultraviolet light produced by a copier is typically contained within the glass plate. By keeping the cover down while copying, you can lessen the chance of exposure to harmful UV rays. Though not dangerous, prolonged exposure to the UV light given off by photocopiers can lead to eye strain.

Noise/Ventilation

The number of airborne contaminants can be reduced, and indoor air quality can be improved by using a designated copy room with proper ventilation. The stress of having to work near a copier is compounded by the fact that they make noise and also can cause an increase in the temperature of the space. It would be best if you moved away from the copier whenever possible. Carpeted areas are bad for photocopiers because dirt and allergens get stuck in the fibres. Make sure there's enough room around the machine for heat to dissipate properly, as well as a HEPA air filter and catalytic converter to keep the air clean.

Toner

An additional issue is the toner used in laser printers and photocopiers. Again, the powder is superb and poses no health risks. But, as with any dust, breathing in too much of it can irritate the respiratory system.

Toner contains carbon black as its primary component. As for this:

• Low in toxicity, yet some toner contaminants may pose cancer risks. Carbon blacks are an irritant to the respiratory system. They may irritate the eyes, but the extremely low tiers of impurities in carbon blacks produced today make them safe for human use.

Data Printed by Laser

Accidental spillage of used cartridges is the most prevalent source of toner contamination in offices. As a result, the toner could potentially be released into the atmosphere. Therefore, those with respiratory problems or hypersensitivity to dust should avoid replacing toner cartridges, even though the dust is a harmless nuisance.

The best thing to do in the event of a spill is to carefully vacuum up the dust not to create a dust cloud.

Black Carbon

Toner can add anywhere from 5-10% carbon black powder. Swedish researchers first raised the alarm about carbon black's potential carcinogenicity years ago, prompting the industry to alter its production methods. As a result, carbon black was deemed not harmful to humans by the International cancer agency in 2010.

Magnetic fields and Electric

Like all electrical devices, photocopiers produce a magnetic field with very low frequency. However, inadequate evidence links these fields to an increased risk of cancer in adults, says the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Both Visible and Ultraviolet Radiation

In addition to regular light, photocopiers also produce UV light. Hence, they have a protective glass plate installed, which blocks out the UV and IR radiation while allowing the visible light to pass through at safe levels. Therefore, it is suggested that you keep the cover closed while you copy. However, if that isn't an option, you can always utilise an automatic document feeder or avert your gaze from the light source.

Heat and Noise

The stress and exhaustion brought on by having to work in an environment that's too loud or too hot aren't dangerous in and of themselves. However, if you need assistance picking which business printer is appropriate, read Market Inspector's comprehensive guide.

To keep noise and heat pollution to a minimum once you have your printer, be sure to implement all of the measures recommended by the manufacturer and installation.

Beam of Light

These days, printers have safeguards to prevent users from being injured by the printer's laser. Therefore, these tools do not pose any danger to the public.

In conclusion, minor health hazards can be avoided by following the regulations and directions given by the maker for the use and installation of the photocopier, as well as by using good judgment when functioning with the machine.

Selenium

The photocopying drum receives a selenium coating, which is photoconductive. There is a risk that this coating will deteriorate if the photocopier gets too hot while in use. The most common side effects of selenium exposure are a metallic taste and odour in the mouth and breath. Prolonged exposure has been linked to various health problems, including headaches, dizziness, trouble concentrating, rashes, and itchiness in the nose and throat. But the best part is that selenium poisoning is extremely uncommon and can usually be handled effectively.

In most photocopiers, selenium serves as the photoconductive substance. Organic polymers, cadmium sulphide, and zinc oxide are also employed. Little amounts of these substances can float through the air. On the other hand, when everything is running smoothly, the levels of these pollutants are much below those at which health problems begin to appear.

Substances that release carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous, colourless, odourless, and poisonous gas that can be released from a photocopier in an area with insufficient ventilation. Carbon monoxide poisoning's early signs can resemble the flu, including headaches, exhaustion, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness.

Bright light

Exposure to the bright light used in photocopying for long periods can irritate the eyes and leave a lasting visual impression. So before beginning a copy, make sure the photocopier's lid is closed. Instead, workers should turn their backs to the light.

Other health risks

In addition to ozone gas and toner dust, photocopiers present various potential dangers to people's health.

In today's offices, photocopiers are an absolute necessity. Yet, as much as we appreciate the machines' modern appearance, impressive capabilities, and outstanding print quality, we often overlook their physical dangers.

Regular use of these machines is indicative of their prevalence in the workplace. Yet, few people know that they can cause health issues, especially in people with respiratory issues.

Keep Away From The Photocopier.

Scientists have identified air pollution as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Grains of dust with soot just under ten microns in width are inhaled along with polluted air and can irritate the lungs.

Both outdoor and interior air pollution has been related to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory issues, including asthma.

Follow these suggestions to spend less time in polluted environments, both inside and out.

Indoors

• Get your indoor air quality in order. Stay away from aerosol and plug-in air fresheners and either open a window or use activated carbon or HEPA air purifier.
• Reducing the usage of scented goods and replacing them with plants will help make your home more liveable.
• Carpet, coated fabrics, furnishings, Television screens, glues, and paints can all be potential volatile organic compounds sources. An activated carbon air purifier can mitigate chemical and odour problems.
• If you work in an office with a wet toner photocopier, you may want to request a seat change.
• Ensure you have enough protection if you operate with chemicals or other potentially hazardous materials.

Outdoors

• Keep away from the main thoroughfares and instead take backroads, parks, or other areas with plenty of shade. All road users (including walkers, runners, and bikers) should keep this in mind;
• Keep to the right side of both the sidewalk; If it looks like awful weather, don't let it get you down. The wind diminishes pollutants in the air, and the precipitation washes them away. On the other hand, a hot, humid day is hard on the body, so if we are interested in running, it's best to get up early.

Electrocorp, a top-tier producer of air purifiers in the Americas, provides full-service filtration systems, including deep bed cartridges and particle filters. Please speak with one of our air quality specialists for additional information on industrial air filtration and home/office air purification.

Have We Got Anything to Worry About?

In a study funded by the federal government, researchers showed that exposure to high concentrations of ultrafine particles from sources including car and industrial exhausts could trigger asthma episodes and exacerbate preexisting heart conditions.

Unfortunately, the comprehensive research necessary to address these safety concerns has not yet been conducted. This is why the World Health Organization hasn't set limits on how much exposure to ultrafine particles people can safely have.

It's possible that laser printer ultrafine particles don't have the same biological consequences as the ones studied in the government survey since they're chemically different.

To better understand the possible dangers posed by laser printer emissions, Work Safety Australia has funded two separate research studies. Reports will be posted to the organisation's website in the months to come.

Given the lack of information on how to deal with this potential risk posed by laser printers, what, if anything, should we do?

To be safe, we provide these suggestions for reducing your exposure to the tiny particles produced by laser printers:

The office would benefit from fresh outdoor air, so provide plenty of it.

Put printers that get a lot of use in open places with lots of airflows, preferably far from any persons who will be near them.

Ensure you don't stand directly over the printer while printing.

It's probably a good idea to request a seat change if you find yourself seated close to a frequently used printer.

It's not a good idea for people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions to be near active printers.

What's the Best Location for a Photocopier?

The topic of where photocopiers should be located is more complex than it first appears. One must exercise caution when using a photocopier because of its potential dangers. Universities and municipal governments worldwide have established rules on where photocopiers should be kept for optimal efficiency.

These suggestions have been put forwards:

• Place photocopiers in areas with adequate airflow, giving them at least 50 centimetres of clearance on all sides, another 50 centimetres of clearance behind it, and another 72 centimetres of clearance in front of them it, or even 172 centimetres if the site is a main highway.
• Employees in the office should not sit closer than 4 metres to the photocopier to prevent any accidents or injuries.
• A room with 46 metric tons of space is recommended for photocopiers;
• Spaces with respiratory support should be set aside for heavy-duty photocopiers;
• Photocopiers can be a source of distracting noise and uncomfortable heat. Thus care must be taken to locate them where they will have the least negative impact.
• Cleaning and upkeep regularly are other musts.
• While refilling or exchanging toners, extra caution must be exercised;
• Consumables' safe disposal should also be ensured.

Conclusion

Sixty-two laser printers were tested for emissions by scientists at the Queensland Institute of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. They found that 27% of them released excessive levels of particle pollution when they were operating. The worst-emitting printer released particles similar to those produced by an average chain smoker. Some printers were better than others, with only eight "low emitters" and thirteen "high emitters" among the printers tested. More research is needed to establish a link to adverse health effects, but if the findings hold up, governments may start regulating the levels of particulate emissions from laser printers.

Constant exposure to the office environment produced by some copy machines poses health risks, even though they were designed to make our lives easier. Xerography is the method used by most photocopiers, which produces heat and discharges particles into the air. Contaminants such as methyl alcohol, ammonia, acetic acid, and ozone can be released, and toner powder can go airborne. UV light can lead to eye strain, noise/ventilation can reduce airborne contaminants, and indoor air quality can be improved by using a designated copy room with proper ventilation. Toner contains carbon black as its primary component, which is low in toxicity but may pose cancer risks.

Carbon blacks are an irritant to the respiratory system, but the extremely low tiers of impurities in carbon blacks produced today make them safe for human use. Accidental spillage of used cartridges is the most common source of toner contamination in offices, so those with respiratory problems or hypersensitivity to dust should avoid replacing toner cartridges. Magnetic fields and electric like all electrical devices produce a magnetic field with very low frequency, but inadequate evidence links these fields to an increased risk of cancer in adults. Photocopiers also produce UV light, so they have a protective glass plate installed to block out the UV and IR radiation while allowing the visible light to pass through at safe levels. To keep noise and heat pollution to a minimum, be sure to implement all of the measures recommended by the manufacturer and installation.

In today's offices, photocopiers are an essential tool, but they can pose physical dangers to people's health. Selenium is the photoconductive substance used in most photocopiers, which can lead to side effects such as a metallic taste and odour in the mouth and breath, headaches, dizziness, trouble concentrating, rashes, and itchiness in the nose and throat. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous, colourless, odourless, and poisonous gas that can be released from a photocopier in an area with insufficient ventilation. Bright light can irritate the eyes and leave a lasting visual impression, so before beginning a copy, make sure the photocopier's lid is closed and turn their backs to the light. Air pollution is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so keep away from it.

Follow these suggestions to spend less time in polluted environments, both inside and out. Indoor air quality can be improved by reducing scented goods and replacing them with plants, and using activated carbon or HEPA air purifiers. Outdoor, keep away from main thoroughfares and take backroads, parks, or other areas with plenty of shade. Work Safety Australia has funded two separate studies to better understand the possible dangers posed by laser printer emissions. Electrocorp provides full-service filtration systems, including deep bed cartridges and particle filters.

The best location for a photocopier should be located to reduce exposure to the tiny particles produced by laser printers. To be safe, the office should benefit from fresh outdoor air, put printers in open places with lots of airflows, ensure they don't stand directly over the printer while printing, request a seat change if seated close to a frequently used printer, and not sit closer than 4 metres to the photocopier. Additionally, a room with 46 metric tons of space is recommended for photocopiers, and spaces with respiratory support should be set aside for heavy-duty photocopiers. Care must be taken to locate them where they will have the least negative impact and ensure their safe disposal.

Content Summary

• Sixty-two laser printers were tested for emissions by scientists at the Queensland Institute of Technology throughout Brisbane, Australia.
• They found that 27 per cent of them released excessive levels of particle pollution when they were operating.
• These are difficult for the lungs to remove and may have adverse health effects over time.
• The team's original goal was to determine how different levels of open-air particulate pollution would affect the air quality inside an indoor work environment.
• But, on the other hand, they discovered that it was three times as bad, on average, during working hours.
• After determining that certain printers were to blame, they conducted tests in a workplace and an isolated room to determine how each machine affected air quality.
• According to the study's authors, the worst-emitting printer released particles into the air, similar to those produced because of an average chain smoker.
• Sixty per cent of them gave off absolutely zero particle emissions.
• There were only eight "low emitters" and thirteen "high emitters" among the printers we tested.
• More research is required to establish a link to adverse health effects.
• But, on the other hand, if the findings hold up, governments may start thinking about regulating the levels of particulate emissions from laser printers.
• Constant exposure to the office environment produced by some of these machines poses health risks, even though they were designed to make our lives easier.
• ContaminantsIn a recent research, the Department of Labor found that copy machines were a significant source of IAQ problems in offices.
• Though not dangerous, prolonged exposure to the UV light given off by photocopiers can lead to eye strain.
• The number of airborne contaminants can be reduced, and indoor air quality can be improved by using a designated copy room with proper ventilation.
• Low in toxicity, yet some toner contaminants may pose cancer risks.
• Carbon blacks are an irritant to the respiratory system.
• To keep noise and heat pollution to a minimum once you have your printer, be sure to implement all of the measures recommended by the manufacturer and installation.
• In conclusion, minor health hazards can be avoided by following the regulations and directions given by the maker for the use and installation of the photocopier, as well as by using good judgment when functioning with the machine.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning's early signs can resemble the flu, including headaches, exhaustion, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness.
• So before beginning a copy, make sure the photocopier's lid is closed.
• Other health risksIn addition to ozone gas and toner dust, photocopiers present various potential dangers to people's health.
• Indoors Get your indoor air quality in order.
• Please speak with one of our air quality specialists for additional information on industrial air filtration and home/office air purification.
• In a study funded by the federal government, researchers showed that exposure to high concentrations of ultrafine particles from sources including car and industrial exhausts could trigger asthma episodes and exacerbate preexisting heart conditions.
• To be safe, we provide these suggestions for reducing your exposure to the tiny particles produced by laser printers:The office would benefit from fresh outdoor air, so provide plenty of it.
• Put printers that get a lot of use in open places with lots of airflows, preferably far from any persons who will be near them.
• Ensure you don't stand directly over the printer while printing.
• The topic of where photocopiers should be located is more complex than it first appears.
• One must exercise caution when using a photocopier because of its potential dangers.
• Universities and municipal governments worldwide have established rules on where photocopiers should be kept for optimal efficiency.
• Employees in the office should not sit closer than 4 metres to the photocopier to prevent any accidents or injuries.