Addressing customers’ environmental concerns

IN THE COURSE OF DOING RESEARCH into the efficiency of office airconditioning units to filter out so-called Ultra-Fine Particles (UFPs), a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researcher working in conjunction with the Queensland State Government Department of Works in Brisbane discovered higher concentrations of UFPs inside the office than outside.

At first it presented a puzzle until the researchers figured out the rather alarming culprit was the humble office laser printer. Investigating further, the researchers tested a number of printers from Hewlett Packard, Canon, Ricoh and Toshiba. The results revealed that some of the printers spewed out large quantities of these minute particles, presumably from the toner cartridges.
The research results rocked the media with the story racing quickly around the world, gaining coverage in the technology, scientific and consumer press.

Accounting for nearly 80 percent of the brands tested but nearly 100 percent of the worst offenders, HP bore the brunt of the media glare. The company defended itself saying it was not entirely clear what these particles were and whether or not they pose any real or significant health hazard.

While the QUT study did not identify the particles emitted, it is widely accepted that UFPs in general pose a serious health risk due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lung. hence the parallels drawn between cigarette smoke, car exhausts and now printers. The QUT researcher, Lidia Morawska, Ph.D. and colleagues found that the high particle emitters spewed out higher concentrations when the toner cartridges were new, or when the printers were printing pages with comparatively more text or image.

“The health effects from inhaling ultra-fine particles depend on particle composition, but the results can range from respiratory irritation to more severe illness such as cardiovascular problems or cancer,” the report said. In response, a HP US vice president named Tuan Tran issued a statement saying the company stands behind the safety of its products.

“Testing of ultra-fine particles is a very new scientific discipline,” Tran said in the report, “and UFPs cannot yet be accurately analysed. However, many experts believe that many of the UFPs found in common household and office products are not discrete solid particles, but may be condensation products or small droplets created during thermal processes.

“HP does not see an association between printer use by customers and negative health effects for volatile organic compounds, ozone or dust,” Tran said in the statement.

“While we recognise ultra-fine, fine, and coarse particles are emitted from printing systems, these levels are consistently below recognised occupational exposure limits.”

The emissions issue is just the latest in a series of environmental challenges the laser and inkjet printer market has had to tackle as the devices become mainstream, being deployed in greater and greater numbers not only in the workplace, but in the home as well.

Despite being fingered as the main offender in this research, HP has quite a good environmental track record with a history of recycling programs stretching back to 1987.

addressing concerns customers environmental hardware