A team of scientists from Queensland University of Technology found that office laser printers emit tiny toner particles into the air which can damage the lungs in the same way smoke particles from cigarettes do.
About 1/3 of the 60 printers studied released dangerous levels of “ultra-tiny toner-like material” into the air which increased 5-fold during work hours and worsened when images were printed.
The scientists asked governments to consider the risk and proposed introducing health warnings on printers and called on employers to place printers in well-ventilated areas.
