Ever wonder why, after a few minutes on the treadmill at the end of a grueling week, you're breathing harder than (eighteen pack a day smoker) James Simons trying to explain 5/44 to investors? Forget the crippling fatigue, lousy diet, self-loathing and emotional stress, it’s the PRINTERS.
Australian scientists from the Queensland University of Technology have found that office laser printers can damage lungs as much as smoke particles from cigarettes. Almost a third of the 60 printer models studied emit dangerous levels of toner into the air. A detailed explanation of your deteriorating health, from the BBC:
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. Conducted in an open-plan office, the test revealed that particle levels increased five-fold during working hours, a rise blamed on printer use. The problem was worse when new cartridges were used and when graphics and images required higher quantities of toner.
Since “working hours” for bankers include most of the 168 hours in a week, it turns out banking causes you to really suck, much more than originally thought.
Office printers 'are health risk' [BBC]
Posted by Jon, Jul 31, 2007 11:30AM
What is 5/44?