Backgrounder

High Level of User Safety with HP LaserJet and HP Color

LaserJet Printing Systems
As the worldwide leader in imaging and printing, HP is committed to driving the
development of user-friendly printing technologies and products. Vigorous tests under
standardized operating conditions are an integral part of HPs R&D efforts and strict
quality control procedures. In this context, HP laser printing systems are also assessed for
potential particle release and other emissions. As a global company, HP follows
internationally valid health and safety requirements and considers scientifically
recognized assessment and certification criteria.
Tested toner safety
Original HP toner and print cartridges undergo defined quality testing and are strictly
examined according to the assessment criteria for preparations in the European Union
(Directive 1999/45/EC, as amended). The manufacturing of HP toner and print
cartridges follows international standards such as ISO 9001:2000 (quality assurance in
production) and ISO 14001 (environmental management system).
Low release of material emissions
HP laser printing systems comply with applicable and internationally recognized
occupational safety standards. Accordingly, under intended conditions of use, potential
device emissions such as ozone and styrene are significantly below the applicable
emission limit values of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA),(1) the binding occupational exposure limits of the EU(2) and the German
occupational exposure limit values (AGW).(3) They comply with the toxicologically based
Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CREL),of the Californian Environmental Health
Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).(4)
Furthermore, emission values also meet the strict inhalation guide values of the U.S.
EPA,(5) internationally recognized indoor guidelines of the World Health Organization(6)
and the total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) recommendations of the German
Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA).(7) Moreover, HPs design
criteria for its laser printing systems incorporate guidelines by both the GREENGUARD
program(8) in the United States and Blue Angel program(9) in Germany (according to RALUZ 85/114 or RAL-UZ 122).
For the purpose of a preventative health and consumer protection, the whole HP laser
printing system (device, print cartridges and papers) is always examined in special test
chambers in order to determine potential emission sources. Measurements are performed
under extreme usage conditions and closely follow the guidelines of the international
standard ECMA-328,(10) the emission criteria of GREENGUARD(8) and of the Blue Angel

program.(9)
Consequently, no special health risk is to be expected from emissions of HP laser printing
systems when devices are operated as intended.
Minimal particle emissions
The closed design concept of HP LaserJet and HP Color LaserJet print cartridges
effectively limits potential particle release. In general, the important imaging components
and special excess toner reservoirs are located inside the print cartridge. Remaining
toner or paper particles are wiped off the imaging drum and collected in the excess
toner reservoir. Therefore, under intended handling conditions, users should not come
into contact with toner particles
To ensure a high level of user safety, HP additionally measures the potential release of
particles under extreme operating conditions. Following the well-established and
generally recognized gravimetric test procedures in environmental test chambers (ECMA328,(10) RAL-UZ 85/114, RAL-UZ 122), the total mass or the resulting airborne
concentrations of emitted particles are low. Therefore, and because of their chemical
properties, they pose no health risk according to the current state of knowledge.
The concentrations of dust particles of HP laser printing systems lie well below the U.S.
OSHA limit values(1) and the German AGW.(3) Moreover, HPs design criteria for its laser
printing systems incorporates guidelines from both the GREENGUARD program(8) in the
United States and the Blue Angel program(9) in Germany. Accordingly, experts from
Germanys federal government confirm that the overall particle release can be considered
to be to be relatively small.(11)
No special health risk is thus to be expected from dust emissions when HP laser printing
systems are operated as intended.
No indications of special health issues due to ultrafine particles (UFPs)
Recently, newly developed measurement methods have made it possible to determine the
particle size distribution even for the smallest particles within the very small amounts of
total particulate matter. Currently available measurement results of the UBA show that
toner particles (average diameter from 5 to 10 m) as well as paper dust are released
only to a very small extent.(12)
In the context of the describing and comparing examinations by the UBA, ultrafine
particles (UFP, < 0.1 m) were also found with the new measurement methods. Currently,
it is not possible to comment on the nature and chemical composition of these particles
according to the UBA.(12) Based on the available results, it is also not possible to make
comments on potential health risks.(12) The study results show that the measured UFP
concentrations lie within the range of daily indoor activities such as for example
toasting, cooking, ironing or burning candles.
Recent studies of the Fraunhofer Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institute (FhG WKI) support these
observations and make the assumption that the determined UFPs are not solid particles
but condensation products or small droplets that are created during the thermal printing
process and measured as particles by particle counters.(13) Indoor measurements that
were recently conducted in the Netherlands show that exposure to UFPs does not seem to
be related to copying and printing activities.(14)

Additional safety margin under real-life conditions

Users of HP laser printing systems can rely on tested toner, low release of material
emissions and minimum particle emissions. Thus, there are no indications for health risks
when HP laser printing systems are operated as intended. Furthermore, a variety of
scientific results shows that an additional margin of safety can be assumed under real-life
conditions in office rooms and work spaces.
Experts attest to safety of HP laser printing systems
HP constantly welcomes dialogue with health and safety competent bodies. In Germany,
for instance, HP closely cooperates with the UBA (12), responsible German Professional
Associations and experts for environmental hygiene to ensure user safety of HP LaserJet
and HP Color LaserJet printing systems.
Independent experts and institutions attest to the safety of properly operated devices: a
study on emissions at workplaces with printers and copiers in the offices of the Federal
Bureau for Social Affairs, Family and Health in Thuringia demonstrated that laser printers
do not figure as significant sources of dust emissions and therefore no health risk is to be
expected.(15) The Professional Associations as well as independent scientific institutions of
the Professional Association for the Administrative Sector, which regularly check
emissions from office devices, either did not find any indications for an increased health
risk due to laser printer emissions or toner dust.(16, 17)
In addition, experts from Germanys Federal Government state that, considering real-life
conditions, there are no indications for special health risks in the non-occupational
sector.(11) In preliminary reports, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
summarizes results of a study on laser printer safety and states that both clinical
examinations as well as real-room measurements do not indicate special health problems
due to toner emissions.(18, 19)
More information about HPs commitment to environmental sustainability is available at
www.hp.com/environment.
(1)

US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs-TWA), 29 CFR

1910.1000 Z-1 and Z-2, 2007.

(2)

European Commission, Indicative and Binding Occupational Exposure Limit Values (IOELV/BOELV),

2003.
(3)

The revised German Ordinance of Hazardous Substances (GefStoffV) in effect as of 1 January 2005

defines the workplace limits (AGW) as standardized air limit values, which replace the previous MAK and
TRK values (German maximum workplace concentration/technical guide concentration). The AGW is the
limit for the time-weighted average concentration of a substance in the air of a workplace in relation to a
given reference period. It specifies at which substance concentration acute or chronic negative health effects
are usually not to be expected.
(4)

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), California, Chronic Reference Exposure

Levels (CREL), February 2005.

(5)

US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Reference Concentration (RfC), 2005.

(6)

World Health Organization (WHO), Air Quality Guidelines for Europe, 2nd edition, 2000.

(7)

Richtwerte fuer die Innenraumluft (Guide values for indoor air), Innenraumlufthygiene-Kommission (Indoor

Air Hygiene Commission), Umweltbundesamt (German Environmental Federal Agency), 2005.

(8)

The GREENGUARD guide values for emissions from office equipment are stated according to the

GREENGUARD program, revised in August 2004, in spring 2005 or in January 2007 and in effect at the

time of measurement.
(9)

The revised Blue Angel criteria for printers (RAL-UZ 85) and multifunction devices (RAL-UZ 114) of the

German Federal Environmental Agency are in effect as of 2004. As of 2007, they are replaced by RAL-UZ
122 (printers, copiers, multifunction devices).
(10)

ECMA-328 is a standard measurement procedure for determining chemical emissions from electronic

equipment for private and professional use, e.g. ozone, dust and volatile organic compounds.
(11)

Deutscher Bundestag [German Parliament], Answer of the German Bundesregierung [Federal

Government], printed publication 16/4016, 2007.

(12)

Umweltbundesamt (UBA) (German Federal Environmental Agency), Untersuchungen zur Freisetzung feiner

und ultrafeiner Partikel beim Betrieb von Laserdruck-Geraeten (Studies on the release of fine and ultrafine
particles during the operation of laser printing devices), Bake/Moriske, 2006
(13)

Particle measurements of hardcopy devices, in: HB 2006 healthy buildings - proceedings, Wensing et al.,

2006.
(14)

Blootstelling aan tonerstof bij kopieer-, en printerapparatuur (Exposure to toner dust by photocopiers and

printers), in: Tijdschrift voor toegepaste Arbowetenschap 4, Zaat et al., 2006.

(15)

Landesministerium fuer Soziales, Familie und Gesundheit, Thueringen (Ministry of Health, Family and

Social Affairs of Thuringia), Asthma bronchiale durch Tonerstaub? (Bronchial asthma due to toner dust?),
Mueller/Wappler, 2001.
(16)

Gesundheitsgefahren durch Laserdrucker? (Health hazards caused by laser printers?), in: Gefahrstoffe

Reinhaltung der Luft 7/8, Smola et al., 2002.

(17)

Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut fuer Arbeitsschutz (BGIA)/Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft (VBG)

(German BG-Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/German Professional Association for the
Administrative Sector), Laserdrucker sicher betreiben (Safe operation of laser printers), in: Schriftenreihe
Praevention SP 2.3 (BGI 820), 2006.
(18)

Bundesinstitut fuer Risikobewertung (BfR) (German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment), Report of the BfR,

21 February 2007.
(19)

Bundesinstitut fuer Risikobewertung (BfR) [German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment], Report of the BfR,

25 January 2007.

2007 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The
only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and
services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial
errors or omissions contained herein.
8/2007