US researchers have found engineered nanoparticles, including titanium dioxide, iron oxide and fumed silica in the air around photocopiers. Some reports have suggested a link between printing and photocopying and immune and respiratory diseases and there are concerns that emitted nanoparticles may be involved.
A team led by Dhimiter Bello at the University of Massachusetts Lowell analysed nanoparticles emitted by photocopiers. They also tested toners and dust collected from the exhaust filter. The chemical composition of the emitted nanoparticles was complex, reflecting toner chemistry.
The findings are important to help understand the origin and toxicology of the nanoparticles, say the researchers. “Further investigation of their chemistry, larger scale exposure studies, and thorough toxicological characterisation of emitted nanoparticles is needed,” they add.
The research will be published in Nanotoxicology.
Fonte: Chemical Watch
