HP MFP S900 White Paper

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 HP’s 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

(1)

(OSHA),

the binding occupational exposure limits of the EU

occupational exposure limit values (AGW).

(3)

They comply with the toxicologically based

(2)

and the German

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

(7)

Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA).

Moreover, HP’s 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 RAL-

UZ 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 (ECMA-

(10)

328,

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.

(1)

OSHA limit values

and the German AGW.
printing systems incorporates guidelines from both the GREENGUARD program
United States and the Blue Angel program

(3)

Moreover, HP’s design criteria for its laser

(9)

in Germany. Accordingly, experts from

(8)

in the

Germany’s federal government confirm that the overall particle release can be considered

(11)

to be to be “relatively small.”

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 μm) 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 μm) were also found with the new measurement methods. Currently,
it is not possible to comment on the nature and chemical composition of these particles

(12)

according to the UBA.
comments on potential health risks.

Based on the available results, it is also not possible to make

(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

(13)

process and measured as particles by particle counters.

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)