Go AQS
/0 Kommentare/von /in , ,

nano-Control and GO AQS Join Forces to Tackle Invisible Threats

The air we breathe indoors can be far more polluted than the air outside, yet it’s an issue that often goes unnoticed. The nano-Control, International Foundation and the Global Open Air Quality Standards (GO AQS) initiative are stepping up to address this critical challenge by announcing a new collaboration focused on the health risks posed by indoor air pollution.

The Invisible Threat: Ultrafine Particles

For years, the public’s focus on air quality has been on more visible pollutants like smog and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). However, a more insidious threat exists: ultrafine particles (UFPs). These particles, which are smaller than 0.1 micrometers, are so tiny they can easily bypass the body’s natural defenses and penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. They are linked to a range of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological diseases.

A significant source of these UFPs is everyday indoor appliances like laser printers and copying machines. When these devices are in use, they can emit a large amount of nanoparticles per page, introducing a cocktail of harmful substances into the air, including carbon black, heavy metals, polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

A Unified Front for Healthier Indoor Environments

The nano-Control, International Foundation has long been dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of UFPs and advocating for stricter regulations on indoor sources. They have provided support and information to thousands of people affected by this pollution.

The GO AQS initiative shares this commitment to creating a healthier world by establishing a common benchmark for clean air. Recognizing that there is currently no single, globally-accepted standard for indoor air quality, GO AQS is working to create a set of transparent, science-backed guidelines that can be universally adopted.

In a powerful display of shared purpose, the two organizations collaborate in a specific working group for nanoparticles under the GO AQS framework. This collaboration aims to formalize a global approach to a problem that transcends borders.

The Path Forward: Research and Regulation

Currently, many organizations and experts follow the WHO 2021 good practices, which suggest maintaining low UFP concentrations, specifically aiming for less than 1,000 particles per cubic centimeter. However, both nano-Control and GO AQS agree that this is just the beginning.

There is a critical need for more epidemiological research to fully understand the long-term health outcomes of chronic exposure to UFPs from indoor sources. This research will provide the scientific evidence needed to develop more robust and effective standards. By working together, the nano-Control, International Foundation and GO AQS are not only advocating for better regulations but also inviting the global scientific community to join them in this crucial effort to protect public health. This collaboration is a vital step toward a future where clean air is not a luxury, but a fundamental right for everyone.

/0 Kommentare/von /in , ,

Elephant in the room – ultrafine particles and anthropogenic organic aerosols

Origin, effect and health relevance – focus on laser printer emissions

Aerosols – definition and origin in the air we breathe

Aerosols: complex mixtures of solid and/or liquid particles, finely dispersed in a gas – typically air

Formation in the ambient air – indoors and outdoors: both through natural processes (e.g. volcanic eruptions, pollen count, sea spray) and human activities such as industry, transport, laser printing, 3D printing and household processes.

Weiterlesen

Toner an den Händennano-Control
/0 Kommentare/von /in , , ,

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) as Additives in Toner and therefore very likely also Part of Laser Printing Devices Emissions

The non-profit organisation nano-Control, International Foundation calls for mandatory rules for the installation and operation of ubiquitous toner-based printing systems like ‘laser printers and copiers’ to sustainably improve indoor air quality. The ban on inhalable PFAS in indoor environment is necessary.

Weiterlesen

nano-control - Playground KI
/0 Kommentare/von /in , ,

Indoor Air is Essential for Health:
Reliable, Clean Air to Breathe

The non-profit nano-Control International Foundation advocates for strict regulations on indoor air quality and stricter control over the installation and operation of toner-based devices, such as laser printers and copiers. Achieving high standards in indoor air quality is essential to protect public health and minimize exposure to harmful pollutants.

Weiterlesen

/0 Kommentare/von /in , , ,

Self-reported symptoms associated with the use of printer and photocopier machines: Results from the nano-Control, International Foundation survey

Over the course of many years, the International nano-Control Foundation (iNCF) used a detailed questionnaire to carefully and systematically collect information about health symptoms and exposure conditions of office employees who believed to be exposed to printers and photocopier machines in Germany. The data were collected between 1999 and 2010 from at least 2000 participants.  After no one in Germany showed any interest on such data for many years, in 2021, a team of researchers from the US University of Massachusetts Lowell in the College of Health Sciences, led by Profs. Dhimiter Bello and Anila Bello, systematically analyzed the data and published the results in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine[1]. Dr. D Bello’s group has been investigating the chemistry and toxicology of nanoparticle emissions from printers and photocopiers for many years.

The current paper documented that workers who stated that they were exposed to particles from these machines, including copy and printer machine operators, technicians, and office workers, also reported high frequencies of respiratory diseases (90% of 1998 respondents), allergies (70% of respondents), as well as other health symptoms or diseases, including  asthma/Chronic  Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD, 15% of respondents), bronchial hyperreactivity, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, metal allergies (nickel and cobalt), gastrointestinal disorders, and some cancers. The researchers found that half of the workers reported that their acute respiratory and skin conditions improved significantly away from work (e.g. on the weekend or holidays) and worsened when returning to work, indicating an important role of workplace exposures on the reported symptoms.

The “visible toner dust” – a surrogate for printer-emitted particles (PEP) exposures, was a strong predictor of several health outcomes, including chronic fatigue, bronchial hyperreactivity, asthma/COPD and cardiovascular disease, as indicated by the high and statistically significant adjusted odds ratios.

The scientists acknowledge in the paper several limitations related to self-reported qualitative data, the lack of quantitative exposure assessment, and other confounders, and acknowledge that further epidemiologic research is needed to link quantitatively the PEP exposures with adverse health outcomes. However, the most reported health symptoms in this dataset are consistent with limited available and credible studies in animals, healthy volunteers and epidemiologic studies of printing workers. The scientists conclude that to continue to dismiss workers’ concerns as unfounded is not justified. The good news is that simple and cost-effective solutions to reduce or even eliminate PEP exposure already exist and can be easily implemented in a large scale.

[1] Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ():10.1097/JOM.0000000000003197, August 1, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003197

Copyright © 2024 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

 

Link University of Massachusetts Lowell

/0 Kommentare/von /in , ,

Indoor air quality (IAQ): Safe areas with clean, healthy breathing air that we can trust! – An overview

The non-profit foundation nano-Control, International Foundation calls for mandatory rules for the operation of toner-based printing systems „laser printers“ to sustainably improve indoor air quality.

The human right to breathe clean air also applies to the air we breathe indoors.

„Briefing Air quality in Europe 2021 Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe and has significant impacts on the health of the European population, particularly in urban areas.“ Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

The voluntary nano-Control, International Foundation and its previous organization, the ITG citizens‘ initiative, have been working for almost 30 years on a vital issue: protecting the air we breathe indoors, because we need clean, healthy air to breathe. Breathing is living.
Weiterlesen