By Ted West
MTW contributing writer
I'm really excited today about computer printers, but I know full well how boring that subject can be. So before we get to the mundane, I would like to alert you to some good news and bad news on the fitness front.
First the good news: did you know that muscles are not the only things which can be toned? That's right; researchers have found that your lungs can now be toned as well.
But here's the bad news: It turns out that lung toning can be hazardous to your health.
Don’t laugh; you might just see a warning to that effect on your next printer?
An Australian medical study has found that a third of laser printers emit unsafe levels of toner dust that may be more hazardous than cigarette smoking.
But who cares, you don't own a laser printer, and even if you did, you'd use it so sparingly that stray dust particles would hardly be significant, right?
Don’t be so sure: The researchers found that HP made half of the worst dust emitting printers, and that's an ominous tone… er.. I mean, if you work in an office that uses HP printers, you should be aware that the toner dust is small and light, so that lovely toner residue can linger in the air for fifteen minutes – before it finally settles – into your lungs.
And in an office environment, where the printer might get a lot of use all day, everyday, let's just say you might be experiencing Purple Haze, but without the words and music.
And while no one really knows what toner dust might do in your lungs, we can assume it doesn't resemble a printed page, so it might be good if you started wearing a dust mask in the office.
And/or brought in your own air cleaner.
And alerted your company to the potential hazard.
That way, at least you can hold your employer liable (for knowing about a hazard and not affecting a cleanup) when you get that incurable disease you've always wanted.
Of course, your boss… and his boss… and your industry may come to regard you as a troublemaker, and you might find yourself jobless as a result, and forever unable to find employment in your field…
But look on the bright side; you'll still have your health. And you'll breathe easier when the CDC announces its first cases of Hewlett Pulminosis. If that doesn’t cheer you up, consider this: Laser printers, even color ones, have become very affordable, so messy and clogging ink cartridges may soon be a thing of the past.
The only thing unhealthy about laser printer toners is the cost. Ask anyone who owns one, and they’ll agree.
Ray, I’ll grant that the people who did the testing probably didn’t own them and had little concern about the price of toner in Australia. Nevertheless, what if you’re not a proud owner but you work next to one 40 hours a week and you’re an environmental chemist?