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HP Disagrees With Emissions Report
After
a preliminary review of the Queensland University of Technology
research on particle emission characteristics of office printers, HP
does not agree with its conclusion or some of the bold claims the
authors have made recently in press reports.HP stands behind the safety
of its products. Testing of ultrafine particles is a very new
scientific discipline. There are no indications that ultrafine particle
(UFP) emissions from laser printing systems are associated with special
health risks. Currently, the nature and chemical composition of such
particles ¡ª whether from a laser printer or from a toaster ¡ª cannot
be accurately characterized by analytical technology. However, many
experts believe that many of the UFPs found in common household and
office products are not discrete solid particles, but may be
condensation products or small droplets created during thermal
processes.HP agrees more testing in this area is needed, which
is why we’ve been active with two of the world’s leading independent
authorities on this subject: Air Quality Sciences in the United States
and the Wilhelm-Klauditz Institute in Germany.Vigorous tests are an
integral part of HP’s research and development and its strict
quality-control procedures. HP LaserJet printing systems, original HP
print cartridges and papers are tested for dust release and possible
material emissions and are compliant with all applicable international
health and safety requirements. In addition to meeting or exceeding
these guidelines, HP’s design criteria for its laser printing systems
incorporate guidelines from both the Blue Angel program in Germany and
the Greenguard program in the United States.Based on our own testing,
HP knows that many variables can affect the outcome of tests for
ultrafine particle emissions. Although HP is not aware of all of the
specific methodologies used in the Queensland study, based on what
we’ve seen in the report ¡ª as well as our own work in this area ¡ª we
do not believe there is a link between printer emissions and any public
health risk. Specifically, HP does not see an association between
printer use by customers and negative health effects for volatile
organic compounds, ozone or dust. While we recognize ultrafine, fine,
and coarse particles are emitted from printing systems, these levels
are consistently below recognized occupational exposure limits.HP hopes
to learn more from the study authors about how products were chosen for
the study, how ranges were determined given no standards exist, and
many other factors that could have influenced the results.
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