As if we don't have enough bad news about Products, this one comes from laser printers used at home and offices. Queensland Researchers have found that laser printers are responsible for a significant amount of potentially carcinogenic emissions. The Australian Professor, Lidia Morawska has said these emissions can be as unhealthy as the cigarette smoke, so it needs to be regulated to limit the printer emissions.

The study, submitted by authors from the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, and the Queensland Department of Public Works, appeared in the American Chemical Society's Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) journal today. They measured particulate emissions of 58 laser printers from manufacturers Canon, HP, Ricoh Co., and Toshiba Corp. The average printer releases toner particles that can get deep into the lungs and cause respiratory problems and cardiovascular troubles. These emissions were measured and the printers were ranked in several categories.

Of the 13 printers in this group of 58, were considered "high emitters" and 12 were made by HP. Some of the models are Color LaserJet 4650dn; Color LaserJet 5550dtn; Color LaserJet 8550n; LaserJet 1320n; LaserJet 2420n; LaserJet 4200dtn; LaserJet 4250n; LaserJet 5; LaserJet 8000dn; and the LaserJet 8150n.

HP printers also made up the majority of those tested. Of the 58 printers researched, 48 -- or 83% of the total -- were from HP.

In the non emitter" category of 37 printers, 29 of them were made by HP's. In summary HP's Printers accounted for 19 of the 21 printers that emitted measurable rates of particulates or about 90% of all HP Printers.

The researchers also ran additional tests on selected printers and found that emissions may also be tied to the age of the toner cartridge. New toners have fewer emissions, but in some printers there were no statistical differences between the newer and older printers. Hence the researchers say more studies need to be done to find the root causes in Printers.

HP Spokeswoman talked about this study and said they will respond fully to the report by tomorrow. She also said that as part of the printer testing, they evaluate the printers, toner cartridges and papers for "Dust release and particulate emissions" to comply with the necessary health and safety regulations.

This study would not have been conducted if not for a chance measurement of emissions of office ventilation systems by the Queensland Department of Public Works. They found there were more particles indoors than those produced by the traffic outdoors and seemed to peak during the office hours. And then they finally found the emissions were coming from the Printers and that is how this study was started.

So, if you are using HP printers, check to see whether your printer model falls in the "high emitter" category. We just use black and white printers and print at local Kinko's for on demand color printing. http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/esthag/asap/pdf/es063049z.pdf

I hope the printer manufacturers will respond well and not try to hide the hazardous information from the public like they do in Cigarette industries.