Indoor Pollution in Work Office: VOCs, Formaldehyde and Ozone by Printer

Elena Barrese, Angela Gioffrè, Marialuisa Scarpelli, Donatella Turbante, Roberto Trovato, Sergio Iavicoli

INAIL Research Center, Lamezia Terme, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/odem.2014.23006                

Abstract

In recent years proof of “indoor air quality”, designed to protect and improve the health and safety of workers, was a central strategy in the prevention of many companies. The man creates with the environment in which he lives and works a continuous gas exchange through breathing; this makes the respiratory system main entrance of air pollutants. The indoor pollutants are numerous and originate from different sources. Their concentration may vary over time and depends on the nature of the source, on ventilation, habits and activities carried out by the occupants in the areas concerned. It is well known that photocopiers and laser printers are equipment that emit several chemicals (ozone, solvents, toner dust) both to release the materials used for their operation (toner, ink, paper) and then to the special printing technology used. During the printing and photocopying processes occurring chemical and physical processes complex, during which the components of toner and paper will react under the influence of light and high temperatures. More recently, there have been a growing number of articles as a result of indoor air pollution. They have become more and more significant; probably because of increasing of the concentrations of harmful substances in the confined environment. Particular attention has been given to the emission of harmful substances from electronic equipment and printing that are increasingly present in living and working place. This work was the main objective the emission of volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde and ozone from laser printing devices and consequently the estimation of elimination of same substances through a paper filters which operate through a mechanism of filtration surface with interstitial and penetration of particles into matrix filter on agglomeration, they also enclose type sandwich a layer of activated carbon.

Keywords

Indoor Air, VOCs, Formaldehyde and Ozone, Laser Printers

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Destaillats, H., et al. (2008) Indoor Pollutants Emitted by Office Equipment: A Review of Reported Data and Information Needs. Atmospheric Environment, 42, 1371-1388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.10.080
[2]	Accusani di Ritorto, E. (2007) Gli studi sulla qualità dell’aria negli ambienti confinati I principali inquinanti chimici degli ambienti interni. Formaldeide [on line] URL: http://www.minerva.unito.it/Chimica&Industria/MonitoraggioAmbientale/A4/Confinati6.htm
[3]	WHO (World Health Organization). Air Quality Guidelines for Europe. Copenhagen: WHO 1987 Regional Publications, European Series, 23.
[4]	European Concerted Action. Indoor Air Quality & Its Impact on Man. COST Project 613. Environment and Quality of Life. Report N. 4. Sick Building Syndrome—A Practical Guide. Commission of the European Communities. Office for Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg 1989.
[5]	Morawska, L., et al. (2007) Printer Particle Emissions Add up, New Findings Underscore the Effects of Indoor Air on Human Health. Environmental Science & Technology.
[6]	Lee, C.W., Dai, Y.T., Chien, C.H. and Hsu, D.J. (2006) Characteristics and Health Impacts of Volatile Organic Compounds in Photocopy Centers. Environmental Research, 100, 139-149. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2005.05.003
[7]	Evers, U. and Nowak, D. (2006) Erkrankungen durch Emissionen aus Laserdruckern und Kopierger?ten? Gefahrstoffe - Reinhaltung der Luft, 66, 203-210.
[8]	Hetes, R., Moore, M. and Northelm, C. (1995) Office Equipment: Design, Indoor Air Emissions, and Pollution Prevention Opportunities. US EPA Project Summary, EPA/600/SR-95/045; Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
[9]	NIOSH Method 1500, Issue 2: Hydrocarbons, 36-126 °c BP. 15/08/1994.
[10]	NIOSH, Manual of Analytical Methods: Formaldehyde, Method 2016, January 1998 Issue 1, Fourth Edition.
[11]	Weschler, C.J. (2000) Ozone in Indoor Environments: Concentration and Chemistry. Indoor Air, 10, 269-288.
[12]	Kissel, J.C. (1993) Potential Impact of Deliberately Introduced Ozone on Indoor Air Quality. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology, 3, 155-164.
[13]	Sundell, J. and Zuber, A. (1996) Ozone and Other Photochemical Oxidants in Ambient and Indoor Air: Properties, Sources and Concentrations. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 22, 5-14.
[14]	US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) http://www.fda.gov/
[15]	US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) (1996) Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants. National Center for Environmental Assessment-RTP Office, Research Triangle Park, NC, Report Nos. EPA/600/P-93/004aF-cF, 3v. NTIS, Springfield, VA; PB-185582, PB96-185590 and PB96-185608. the Clean Air Act www.epa.gov/air/caa/title1.html#ib
[16]	US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) (1996) Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: Assessment of Scientific and Technical Information. OAQPS Staff Paper. Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC, EPA-452/R-96-007.