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Office Laser Printer as Harmful as a Cigarette

Toner particles can cause respiratory problems.

Gagan Gupta|Aug 01, 2007, 14:00:00 IST

New on the list of office supplies that can kill you, right next to the sharp pencil, is your office laser printer. New research from the Queensland University of Technology, Australia, shows that particle emissions from a laser printer are just as dangerous as cigarette smoke.

The researchers carried out tests on more than 60 machines. Almost one-third were found to emit ultra-tiny particles of toner-like material, so small that they can infiltrate the lungs and cause a range of health problems from respiratory irritation to more chronic illnesses.

When was the last time you heard of a laser printer-related fatality? Read all about it on BBC and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Image source: Mikewoodburn.com

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