aser-based printing equipment and its consumables cannot be considered “extremely dangerous” or “absolutely safe”. Like other equipment and chemicals, such equipment has features associated with its operation and storage. To minimize damage to your health, you need to know and take into account the parameters and rules for operating the printing equipment and the consumables used.
It is quite natural that toner, which is a finely ground powder, is dangerous for the human body. Toner particles entering the lungs contribute to an increased risk of cancer and other serious diseases of the human respiratory system. The immediate danger of toner was proven by studies conducted at the University of Dortmund. During experiments on rats, toner from 19 manufacturers was used, mostly considered non-toxic. The results of the experiments proved that all of them are carcinogens and pose a threat to the human body to one degree or another.
The course of the experiments was designed so that the rodents breathed air with an increased content of powder. After the end of the study, most of the rats were diagnosed with malignant tumors in their lungs.
The results of the study cannot be considered indisputable, as stated by its authors. Doubts are raised by the uncertainty of the concentration of coloring powder in the air and the body, as well as the impossibility of comparing the effects of toner and other ultrafine particles on the body. Also, certain adjustments are made by the differences between the human body and the rat’s.
However, it can be responsibly stated that inhalation of toner or other dispersed powders threatens the human body. At the same time, the longer a person breathes air with suspended particles, the greater the risk to his health.
If you occasionally refill a laser printer or copier, then to minimize damage to your health, you just need to follow the rules:
Refilling should be done in a room without drafts.
If possible, use a special respirator.
For cleaning, use a vacuum cleaner with a special filter/bag.
If the powder gets on your clothes or skin, first remove it with a vacuum cleaner, and then wash off the toner with cold water. If the powder gets on the mucous membranes, it must be washed off with plenty of water, and if allergic reactions occur, consult a doctor.
The situation changes dramatically if your job responsibilities include refilling cartridges. All work must be carried out in a separate room or at a specially prepared workplace. All work (disassembly, refilling and assembly of the cartridge) must be carried out using PPE and with utmost care and attention.
If the employer has not equipped a place for refilling the cartridge, then demand that he perform the necessary work. Tell him about the harm of toner and its impact on a person. In case of refusal, you have every right to contact the city SES or the relevant department of the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health. But this is an extreme measure and often it does not come to it.
If the employer stubbornly does not want to spend money on equipping the workplace, we recommend changing jobs. No salary is worth your health.