Printer and Copier Health Effects
Some people occasionally have to work with Epson event manager in an office next to a laser printer. However, it’s believed that someone gets sick by sitting close to the printer. Is this a fact?
According to research, laser printers can emit microscopic airborne particles that can be inhaled and cause lung damage. But study is still being done to determine whether or not these particles may affect the body.
Potential Threat of Printer and Copier to Health
In a 2007 research, it was discovered that laser printers generate ultrafine particles at a high level, according to Professor Lidia Morawska from the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health at Queensland University of Technology.
According to Prof. Morawska and the researcher team, they observed that some printers can produce heavy particles, thus it is not advisable for someone to sit close to a working printer. The solution is to this is a room with excellent ventilation.
These ultrafine particles, which are fewer than 0.1 micrometers in size, are categorized as extremely tiny particles. According to some sources, these ultrafine particles can also be found in candle and wood fires, burning wood, and vehicle exhaust.
Prof. Morawska and colleagues identified how laser printers may generate these particles. Organic chemical compounds are created and discharged into the air as the printer toner and paper travel through the heated printer roller.
The public is encouraged to be more watchful about limiting exposure, even if research that particularly addresses the possible health concerns from laser printer emissions is still in progress.
However, Prof. Morawska offers advice on how to reduce the ultrafine exposure linked to laser printers, including:
- Make sure that the office has excellent ventilation from the outside.
- Put the printer in a room with good ventilation.
- It is advisable to keep printers out of the way from the crowd in the office. Make sure to provide one special space with excellent air circulation to put the printer.
- It is not recommended for those who have asthma or heart illness to sit close to working printers.
Other Dangers of Printers and Copiers
Although Epson event manager, printing and copying technology has benefits for printing and copying documents, if not used appropriately, it can also have negative effects.
In the photocopying process, sheets of copy paper are operated by reflecting light from the copier’s light source, an image then will be projected to a “photoreceptor”, which is a tube or tape electrically charged. The surface of the tube is photosensitive, in that the tube will lose its electrostatic charge when exposed to light.
On the tube or tape, the reflected light creates a charge that leaves a fixed picture. Heat and pressure from the paper’s surface combine with electrostatic charge to create an image on the paper. Thus, the primary risks related with printers and photocopiers are:
Ozone
Oxygen (O2) can generate the unstable gas ozone during the photocopying process. High-voltage electrical devices like photocopiers, x-ray machines, and electric arc welding produce ozone when they are in use.
In an office setting, ozone has a 6 minute half-life and is a reactive, unstable gas. Ozone is a very poisonous gas that escapes from copiers and can lead to a variety of health issues. It smells pleasant and can often be detected at amounts of 0.01-0.02 ppm.
Ozone is mostly created during the loading and unloading of the tube and paper for photocopying. Ozone is also created by the ultra violet emissions from the copier light and results from the breakdown of the tube material during image transfer.
Ozone’s negative effects on health are due to the fact that it quickly turns back into oxygen, thus workers shouldn’t experience any symptoms from normal ozone concentrations near copiers. The range of decomposition is influenced by time, temperature (gases decompose more quickly at higher temperatures), and contact with different surfaces.
However, if the space is not well ventilated, ozone concentrations may increase. This pungent gas can irritate the eyes, upper respiratory tract and lungs, throat, and nose when the ozone concentration rises to 0.25 ppm or greater. Other signs include a headache, breathlessness, lightheadedness, exhaustion, and a transient loss of smell sensitivity. It can quickly jeopardize life and health at 10 ppm concentrations.
Toners
The toner, which comes in powder form and is created from different carbon black formulae, is used in dry copiers. It is often sprayed over a polystyrene acrylic or heat-sensitive polyester resin and contains about 10% carbon black.
When the toner system malfunctions and the copier shuts off automatically, fine toner powder may escape from the device. Additionally, when refilling the drum or doing maintenance, toner powder may escape.
Health effects of printer toner includes the irritation of the respiratory system by toner dust might result in sneezing and coughing. Some toners are made of a combination of compounds, including trinitrofluorenone and nitropyrenes.
Avoid skin and respiratory contact since this combination contains cancer-causing qualities. By making sure that the toner stays in the cartridge during printing, copying or operating Epson event manager, this may be prevented. Workers handling cartridges must wear disposable gloves and masks if there is a possibility of skin contact or inhalation.
