So which laser printer won't give me lung cancer?

Stan Beer
Thursday, 02 August 2007 15:15

Opinion and Analysis

Polish environmental physicist Professor Lidia Morawska has just completed a startling study into the potential effects of laser printers on our respiratory health. The only problem is that the study raises more questions than it answers.

Here are the facts. A team of researchers at Queensland University of Technology led by Professor Morawska tested the particle emissions from the toner cartridges of 62 laser printer models, according to the university's press release. Of these printers, according to the release, 17 were found to be high particle emitters.

Based on the numbers outlined in the study, of the 62 printers tested, 37 had no emissions, 6 had low emissions, 2 had medium emissions and 17 had high emissions. However, the table of the report displayed only 13 printers in the high emission category - we're not sure why.

The classifications were based on the ratio of particle concentrations in an office measured immediately after a printer printed one page. In terms of their particle emission levels, non-emitters  had a ratio of 1; low emitters  had a ratio between 1 and 5, medium emitters had ratio between 5 and 10, and high  emitters had a ratio greater than 10.

According to Professor Morawska: "Most of the particles detected in the study were ultrafine particles. 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."

That's pretty scary stuff. If it wasn't coming from a renowned environmental physicist, one might be tempted to dismiss it as FUD spread by the Inkjet ink cartridges lobby.

The good news is that nearly 60% of the printers tested had no emissions at all. The bad news is that the study only scratched the surface as it was based on such a small sample size. Indeed, according to the table, 47 of the printers tested were Hewlett-Packard models, 7 were Ricoh, and there were a couple  Toshiba models. Although, they weren't listed on the table, the report states that some Canons were also tested - there couldn't have been many.

So the report was largely based on findings from tests done on HP printers, while popular printer makers such as Epson, Brother and Lexmark were ignored completely. This is reflected in the results which showed that HP dominated the list of zero and low emission printers as well as the high emmission list.

To complicate the matter further, one particular model of HP printer, the HP LaserJet 8000DN, was on both the high emissions and zero emissions list!

We emailed some questions to Professor Morawska in essence to find out if there was a way consumers could tell whether a laser printer is safe to buy or whether they should just get an inkjet printer for the time being. We were answered by a Queensland University PR spokesperson who indicated there would be no further comment.

What this report highlights is that another much larger study needs to be done and, if the results of the first study are confirmed, tighter regulations need to be put in place governing the manufacturing of laser printers.

In the meantime, what are consumers and office workers to do? There are no clear answers and that is a worry for everybody except those in the inkjet business.