Unite warns manufacturers against toner dust health risks

Unite has called on manufacturers to reduce particle emissions after an Australian university study found that toner dust was a significant risk to human health.

The research, conducted by Professor Lidia Morawska at Queensland University of Technology's International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, focused on office printers.

Morawska wrote in the American Chemical Society's Environmental Science and Technology Journal that 17 out of 62 laser printers were "high particle emitters".

"Most of the particles detected in the study were ultrafine particles," said Morawska. "Ultrafine particles are of most concern because they can penetrate deep into the lungs where they can pose a significant health threat.

"The health effects from inhaling ultrafine particles depend on particle composition, but the results can range from respiratory irritation to more severe illness, such as cardiovascular problems or cancer."

She recommended governments legislate to reduce particle emissions, but in the meantime, employers should ensure proper ventilation.

Unite national health and safety officer Bud Hudspith said the union was concerned about the findings and had sent the paper to the Health and Safety Executive.

"Unfortunately, the paper does not identify any health limits for toner dust, but instead identifies high and low emitters," Hudspith told printweek.com. "Naturally, we would argue that all levels should be reduced, but we have the problem of not having any limit to judge these emissions against."

He added: "In spite of this, we would expect printer manufacturers to minimise particle emissions, and we are awaiting a response from them. We will be looking for manufacturing standards that should be agreed."

The union has long campaigned for photocopiers and printers to be kept in well-ventilated areas and not in small, confined spaces.

However, Hudspith noted the findings would only perhaps apply to some digital printers, as commercial printing presses usually had an entirely different design.
Source: printweek