HP to Researchers: Our Printers Are Safe

Fri Aug 3, 2007 12:49PM EDT

See Comments (78)

In the wake of the report, released earlier this week, that expresses grave concerns over the safety of laser printers and ultrafine particulate matter they might be releasing into the air, HP is striking back. Today I received the company's official (and, I have to say, scathing) response to the matter: "HP does not agree with [the study's] conclusion or some of the bold claims the authors have made."

HP doesn't really claim that its printers don't release ultrafine particles (though it's important to note that the study showed that many HP printers didn't release any emissions at all), saying that they are "consistently below recognized occupational exposure limits."

Rather, HP is taking issue with the notion that these emissions are dangerous. Here's what HP says: "There are no indications that ultrafine particle (UFP) emissions from laser printing systems are associated with special health risks. Currently, the nature and chemical composition of such particles—whether from a laser printer or from a toaster—cannot be accurately characterized by analytical technology."

HP agrees more testing is needed and is working with independent testing group Air Quality Sciences in the U.S. and a similar group in Germany. As well, the company says that HP products meet all current health and safety guidelines for office equipment.

So there you have it. HP says the printers are safe. Australia says they aren't. Who's right? Stay tuned, as I'm sure this argument is about to get really nasty...

You can find the entire text of HP's rebuttal here. 

Comments on HP to Researchers: Our Printers Are Safe

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  • 26 Posted by mariekhoch on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    HP is not saying that their products are safe. They are saying the the government does not say they are proven unsafe. Igorance is bliss?

  • 28 Posted by posthuman04 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    Andrea, maybe we could use the gov't agencies already responsible for these activities, particularly the FTC and OSHA.

  • 29 Posted by bagramilenkova on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Does Only HP have laser printers?..oo unsafe:-) Want to ask "Zobmie":-) - is ther a real difference between Magnetick and electrostatik charge transfer?A - maybe just that there is electrostatick electricity :-) What will hapeen if I put 1 of my hair in the drum - I mean laser drum:-) - e, we know that of courese - the laser don't tuch the drum:-)...Is my hair will freeze the printer?:-) Any way - but maybe resear4ers should work more about the heat of the printers and to save more energy from that?:-)))

  • 30 Posted by profdrkkk on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Now it is up to Companies like HP who make laser printers to investigate and research about the hazard of using their printers for crating a dreadful problem like lung cancer; But at the same time if the allegation is true it is the duty to so something to totally avoid the hazard Prof. Dr. K. K. Krishnamurthi E-mail: profdrkkk@yahoo.com

  • 31 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    LOL - sounds like they are trying to head of a 100 million user class action lawsuit.

  • 32 Posted by marathonia200a on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    Toner is very dangerous. HP is trying to minimize the impact to sales by putting out their bogus response, IMO.

  • 33 Posted by romanizm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    We train your IT specialist and/or technician on service, maintenance and repair of all HP laserJet printers, in Las Vegas. contact HPItechnologies.com Roman Armstrong Imaging Manager

  • 35 Posted by mauiskye1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Again bad science. Did they test HP printers or not? Perhaps it does make a difference. Comment to kylelauderdale: Why would HP fix it if they are denying problem exists. I wear contacts and am very sensitive to particulates in air. Also had an allergic reaction to material used in duplicate copy checks some use to keep track of banking records. Fisher-Price toys just had one of the biggest recalls in history because of lead found in paint in many of toys manufactured in China. It took years for anyone to listen to fact that lead in paint consumed by children had any affect. I respect HP for the quality of their products, but don't intend to bury my head in sand just because they say so.

  • 36 Posted by mae8585 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is the first I've heard about Toner posing a health risk. If this is true why didn't HP make the public aware there may be a possible risk to the consumer's health when using this product. If it were not for the Australian study I would not have known of the issue of the risk involved when using Laser Printers. HP is protecting it's profits the same as the Tobacco Companies did until there was no more denying the FACTS. CIGARETTES KILL. Will we find out years from now TONER KILLS!!!

  • 37 Posted by victorchang5 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    romanizm, i thought this page was for the laser printer case, not a advertizing page!!!

  • 38 Posted by victorchang5 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Lets say you're the boss of hp printers and you've already spent like a billion dollars on the company and that was the bank's money. All you want right now is to repay the bank and earn your money. do you care for the customer's health? Heck no! You just want to get your hands on some cold cash. So I say your reply to the PROFESSIONALS is BOGUS! HP is going to just keep on lying to customers for profit! PROTEST!!! BOYCOTT!!! lol :)

  • 39 Posted by victorchang5 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Lets say you're the boss of hp printers and you've already spent like a billion dollars on the company and that was the bank's money. All you want right now is to repay the bank and earn your money. do you care for the customer's health? Heck no! You just want to get your hands on some cold cash. So I say your reply to the PROFESSIONALS is BOGUS! HP is going to just keep on lying to customers for profit! PROTEST!!! BOYCOTT!!! lol :)

  • 40 Posted by notdavey on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would have to agree with some other posters that Philip Morris (and other tobacco companies) did make similar responses regarding the early wartning about the dangers of smoking and 2nd hand smoke.

  • 41 Posted by ink_2_paper on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    I operate 4 very large commercial laser printers for a living and because of this I will probably die of cancer. Wait, I went outside without my sunscreen and because of this I will probably die of cancer. Oh, and I put aspartame in my tea this morning and because of this I will probably die of cancer. Yeah, and I listened to the radio and I talked on my cell phone and I microwaved my lunch and because of all of those things I will probably die of cancer. Don’t you see, it really doesn’t matter, death is inevitable. Cancer is a byproduct of our way of life. If we continue to worry about all the little things that pop up, what a particulate may or may not cause, etc., we will have to worry about heart attacks and not cancer. The media picks and chooses the stories that will freak the most people out, they like to keep you scared, hanging on their every word, the gossip in the office, the talk on the town. By the way, I really do run those 4 commercial laser printers and there are more safety precautions taken in their design than you think.

  • 42 Posted by brup6 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    HP says "Our printers are safe." China says "Our toys are safe." Would either of them say things that were untrue? Would either of them have a reason to mislead us? We have plenty of evidence that senior corporate management acts in their own interest first, their shareholders second and the general public a distant third.

  • 43 Posted by dhausknecht on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    HP will deny to high heaven that any product of theirs causes a health hazard, and even if it's proven by the EPA, they still will do nothing until they get sued and/or get fined (and even then, they'll be allowed to keep selling their products for five more years, even if they've posed a health risk). As long as they can keep making money, they will not bother with tests until someone forces them to.

  • 44 Posted by ramboja on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Maybe we should go back to printer ribbons. They do a fine job and are less expensive than inkjets. Many companies that manufacture computer ribbons are losing because of the ink jet printers. lbow55

  • 45 Posted by kensfreedom on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why are we only reading about this on Yahoo? Why is the mainstream media NOT reporting on this? Sounds like a Urban Legand Hoax to me.

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