Feb 03

Laser printers charge offices with little fine

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Laser printers charge offices with little fine

Laser printers come from little dust or toner particles. The emissions of ultrafine particles (UFP) are mainly not solids, but vaporized products. This is the Conclusion (PDF) of a two-year research project by the Fraunhofer Wilhelm-Klauditz Institute (WKI).

The study had thirteen in Bitkom organized original manufacturer of laser printers and copiers commissioned. In the project, 26 units of the participating manufacturers Particulate emissions investigated. The units representing common technologies and systems.

"The results refute misleading comparisons of particles from laser printing systems with demonstrably harmful particles from road traffic and cigarette smoke," said Isabel Richter, environmental expert at the Bitkom. "The UFP examined from laser printing systems have fundamentally different physical and chemical properties."

Inorganic compounds such as heavy metals were found in the particulate emissions of the devices only in negligible concentrations. The numbers of ultrafine particles from laser printing systems are comparable with those everyday activities – such as cooking and baking.

In the study, a method for measuring UFP emissions from laser printers is defined. "The proposals developed together with results from a parallel project of the Federal Institute for Materials Research feed into an international ISO standard, "Michael Wensing, says study leader at the WKI.

So far there have been inconsistent measurement methods to Confusion and mixed results led. A coordinated measurement techniques in future it would be possible to quantify reproducible and reliable emissions of ultrafine particles from laser printing systems.

The developed method is by parallel research on new methods for the eco-label Blue Angel be added to laser printing systems to the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) Has asked the Federal Institute for Materials Research. Bitkom UBA and in doing so are professional exchange.

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