Office printers damage lungs like cigarettes

How many hours a week do you spend standing around your office printer, waiting for a document to finish? In a startling discovery, Australian researchers have found that it may be effecting your lungs in the same way as cigarettes.

The recent investigation determined that nearly a third of common office printers emit tiny particles of toner into the air -- particles that damage your lungs like smoke from cigarettes. It's thought that these particles can lead to respiratory problems commonly associated with smoking -- everything from mild irritation to chronic illness.

In response, scientists are calling on the Australian government to regulate these emissions, though there's no news on whether lawmakers plan to take any action.

I can only imagine that this will lead to similar studies, examining more specifically the effect these particles have on the lungs, and how much prolonged exposure can linked any particular disease.

If these findings hold up, the implications for both businesses and their employees could be enormous.