# Copy machines and radiation **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 7, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306 "2004-01-07T23:11:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![koobermate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e68b1a/32.png) [@koobermate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koobermate)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/1 "2004-01-07T23:11:57Z")
I was wondering (since I work at Kinko’s) after I read the column on copy machines emitting radiation, is toner dangerous? It seems like it would be, what with it being a powder, and recycled from plastic things. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/2 "2004-01-07T23:26:01Z")
[Do photocopy machines emit radiation?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_235a.html) As a general rule, inhaling anything that isn’t air is a bad idea. So is eating anything that isn’t food. But if you don’t behave like a jerk, have pillow fights with toner-refill bags, _etc.,_ you shouldn’t be in any particular danger. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/3 "2004-01-08T05:12:06Z")
[http://www.son.washington.edu/safety/hazmat.asp](http://www.son.washington.edu/safety/hazmat.asp) > [@](#): > > Copy/Duplication Products: > > Dry and liquid toners for photocopy machines contain some hazardous materials that are mildly toxic if acute exposure occur, but present no health hazard under normal conditions of use. Prolonged breathing of copy machine toner powder or vapors may cause eye and respiratory irritation and should be avoided. ---
**Author:** ![SkyCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SkyCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyCowboy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/4 "2004-01-08T14:23:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by koobermate \* > \*\*… is toner dangerous? It seems like it would be, what with it being a powder, and recycled from plastic things. \*\* Koober, The primary ingredient in toner for black and white copiers and laser printers, is carbon black which is most often made from animal bones. (The soot left on the inside of the chimney of a kerosene lantern is another good source of carbon black.) Carbon black is nothing more than very finely ground carbon, one of the basic elements. Unless you have problems with eating animals, you shouldn’t be concerned about inhaling small amounts of toner. Out in west Texas and eastern New Mexico there are actual carbon black factories, where they process animal bones into carbon black. I used to fly over them., and you could always tell when you were approaching one because the ground started getting darker and darker until you could see the factory itself in the middle of a small black circle. They always stood out well against the destert. Regards, Sky ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/5 "2004-01-08T15:57:55Z")
It’s the toner _cartridges_ that are sometimes made from recycled plastic, I believe. But repeated and prolonged inhaling of any small particulate matter (dust) can eventually be hazardous to your health, since that’s how you get silicosis, A.K.A. [Black Lung](http://www.msha.gov/S&HINFO/BLUNG/HOMEPAGE.HTM). ---
**Author:** ![cdhostage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cdhostage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdhostage)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/6 "2004-01-17T17:20:18Z")
Stink, beaten to the punch. It’s also known as Miner’s Lung, where your lungs’ surfaces are filled with dust, interfering with their ability to exchange gases between blood and air. Carbon black would probably be even worse than coal dust, as all of the particles are small enough to become permanently trapped. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/7 "2004-01-18T07:24:18Z")
Soon after the first laser page printers were introduced for mainframes (big school-bus sized machines that printed about 3 pages per second, and used up toner by the bucket), there was some controversy about possible danger to computer operators from working with & refilling these machines. Even a few reports of operators that had suffered respiratory problems, possibly related to toner exposure. Studies done at that time showed no particular ill effects from toner spilled on hands or clothes (except that it was incredibly hard to clean off), but a slight risk from breathing in toner, especially to people with ashma or other respiratory conditions. In response to this, Xerox & IBM (the main suppliers at that time) made efforts to remind data centers to pay attention to the part of the instructions that talked about being careful to not create clouds of toner dust, and to avoid breathing it. For a while computer operators were wearing filter masks when filling the machine with toner. Then the companies started providing toner in sealed plastic containers that could be attached to the filler nozzel before being unsealed. This allowed refilling the printers without ever having the toner unsealed & open to the room. Thus no risk of inhaling clouds of toner dust. Plus much cleaner in the computer room, and less wasted toner. This seemed to solve the problem, and is still the system used on these mainframe laser printers. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/8 "2004-01-18T13:41:41Z")
In the UK photocopier toner is one of the substances regulated by the HSE (Helath and Safety Executive) and in my workplace we have outside contractors who come in and change the toner (though this not the case in all offices), this may be because my workplace is a government building and a number of the photocopiers are in rooms which the general public have access to. Carbon itself is a carcinogen, even eating carbonized (i.e. very burnt) toast is not recommended. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/9 "2004-01-19T15:50:55Z")
> [@SkyCowboy](#): > > Koober, > > The primary ingredient in toner for black and white copiers and laser printers, is carbon black which is most often made from animal bones. The primary **coloring agent** may be carbon black, but the base of the toner particles is actually plastic beads ([cite](http://computer.howstuffworks.com/laser-printer4.htm)). ---
**Author:** ![SkyCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SkyCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyCowboy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/10 "2004-01-20T14:32:37Z")
> [@Running with Scissors](#): > > The primary **coloring agent** may be carbon black, but the base of the toner particles is actually plastic beads ([cite](http://computer.howstuffworks.com/laser-printer4.htm)). Scissors, Good catch. I more properly should have said, “The pigment in the toner cartridge for black and white copiers is carbon black.” Youre correct the, fusing agent is plastic. Best, Sky ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/11 "2004-01-21T07:29:49Z")
**MC** The carbon is in itself NOT carcinogenic, it is the adsorbed PAH’s (polycyclic aromatic hyrocarbons) that are. If the carbon is ‘dirty’ then this increases the risk. Carbon black is NOT classifiable as causing Cancer in humans. Though long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause > [@](#): > > changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. As others have said the carbon is contained AND encapsulated - toner is not toxic. TLV = 10mg/m3 by inhalation (thats if you can inhale the stuff). **SkyCowboy** - not all carbon is made from bones - I doubt get much carbon made from bones these days. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/12 "2004-01-21T18:06:04Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > **MC** The carbon is in itself NOT carcinogenic, it is the adsorbed PAH’s (polycyclic aromatic hyrocarbons) that are. If the carbon is ‘dirty’ then this increases the risk. > > Carbon black is NOT classifiable as causing Cancer in humans. > > Though long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause > > As others have said the carbon is contained AND encapsulated - toner is not toxic. TLV = 10mg/m3 by inhalation (thats if you can inhale the stuff). > > **SkyCowboy** - not all carbon is made from bones - I doubt get much carbon made from bones these days. Any concentration of unabsorbed carbon is a potential carcinogen, due to carbon-14. Carbon black is classified as potentially carcinogenic in humans. You’re right; toner is toxic, as I alluded to before the UK HSE classifies it as a toxic substance. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-machines-and-radiation/223306/13 "2004-01-25T14:09:06Z")
Due to carbon 14? Are you serious? What about potassium 40. Watch those banannas.