Hello Louise Kosta!

Thank you for your update to the OccEnvMed List. We had a similar "thread"
on HS-Canada List at http://www.ccohs.ca/hscanada/hscanada.html in response
to the BBC news article
Reference URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6923915.stm

Sincerely,

Andrew Cutz, CIH
HS-Canada List Technical Moderator
http://www.ccohs.ca/hscanada/hscanada.html


FOR (Y)OUR INFORMATION...
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From: Louise Kosta <lkosta@...>
Reply To: "Louise Kosta" <lkosta@...>
Subject: abstract laser printer particle article ES&T
Sent: August 2, 2007 5:09:42 PM
Everyone--FYI. I attempted to send this late last night but apparently it
didn't go through. Sorry if it *did* go through and this is a repeat.

Louise Kosta
chief writer, The Human Ecologist
Human Ecology Action League, Inc.
Stockbridge GA USA
http://members.aol.com/HEALNatnl/index.html

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Environmental Science & Technology, ASAP Web Release Date: August 1, 2007
Copyright © 2007 American Chemical Society

Particle Emission Characteristics of Office Printers

Congrong He, Lidia Morawska (corresponding author--e-mail:
l.morawska@....),and Len Taplin

International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University
of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia, and Queensland Department of
Public Works, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia

Accepted June 27, 2007

Abstract:

In modern society, printers are widely used in the office environment.
This study investigated particle number and PM2.5 emissions from printers
using the TSI SMPS, TSI CPC 3022, and 3025A TSI P-Trak and DustTrak. The
monitoring of particle characteristics in a large open-plan office showed
that particles generated by printers can significantly (p = 0.01) affect
the submicrometer particle number concentration levels in the office. An
investigation of the submicrometer particle emissions produced by each of
the 62 printers used in the office building was also conducted and based
on the particle concentrations in the immediate vicinity of the printers,
after a short printing job, the printers were divided into four classes:
non-emitters, and low, medium, and high emitters. It was found that
approximately 60% of the investigated printers did not emit submicrometer
particles and of the 40% that did emit particles, 27% were high particle
emitters. Particle emission characteristics from three different laser
printers were also studied in an experimental chamber, which showed that
particle emission rates are printer-type specific and are affected by
toner coverage and cartridge age. While a more comprehensive study is
still required, to provide a better database of printer emission rates, as
well as their chemical characteristics, the results from this study imply
that submicrometer particle concentration levels in an office can be
reduced by a proper choice of the printers.

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SOURCE: OCC-ENV-MED-L Digest for Thursday, August 02, 2007