title: Occupational exposure to nanoparticles at commercial photocopy centers.
abstract: Photocopiers emit high levels of nanoparticles (PM0.1). To-date little is known of physicochemical composition of PM0.1 in real workplace settings. Here we perform a comprehensive physicochemical and morphological characterization of PM0.1 and raw materials (toners and paper) at eight commercial photocopy centers that use color and monochrome photocopiers over the course of a full week. We document high PM0.1 exposures with complex composition and several ENM in toners and PM0.1. Daily geometric mean PM0.1 concentrations ranged from 3700 to 34000 particles/cubic-centimeter (particles/cm(3)) (GSD 1.4-3.3), up to 12 times greater than background, with transient peaks >1.4 million particles/cm(3). PM0.1 contained 6-63% organic carbon, <1% elemental carbon, and 2-8% metals, including iron, zinc, titania, chromium, nickel and manganese, typically in the <0.01-1% range, and in agreement with toner composition. These findings document widespread ENM in toner formulations and high nanoparticle exposures are an industry-wide phenomenon. It further calls attention to the need to substantially redesign the interface of this technology with workers and consumers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Dhimiter_Bello@uml.edu.
authors.forename: Dhimiter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.affiliation: R J Lee Group, Inc., Monroeville, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bunker
authors.affiliation: Wisconsin State of Hygiene Laboratory, 2601 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shafer
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woskie
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Demokritou
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D003199:Computer Systems; D003308:Copying Processes; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010209:Paper; D014025:Titanium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; C009495:titanium dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Copy center; Engineered nanoparticles; NanoEHS; Titanium dioxide; Toner