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Your printer could be dangerous!

An accidental discovery led to a study that found laser printers can release dangerous particles into the air, especially when the toner cartridge is new, or when printing graphics and images.

2 Aug 2007

The "ultrafine" particles can find their way into the deepest parts of the lung, and they can be found in concentrations similar to those released by a burning cigarette.

Some laser printers release minute particles into the air that can become lodged in the deepest parts of the lung, possibly causing serious illnesses, according to scientists studying indoor air pollutants at offices.

The findings were reported in a study published in the American Chemical Society's Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) journal. The research found one of the printers released dangerous chemical mist at a rate on par with particle emissions from cigarette smoking.

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