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Volume 8 Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology EnviTox Summit 2018
September 17-18, 2018
September 17-18, 2018 Singapore
18th Global Summit on
Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
Volker Mersch Sundermann et al., J Environ Anal Toxicol 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2161-0525-C2-015
Clinical effects and gene expression profiles in human volunteers in an office test room following
three-day exposure to laser printer emissions
Volker Mersch Sundermann, Richard Gminski, Tao Tang, Zoe Deutsch, Tim Götting, Claudia Schultz, Winfried Ebner and Manuel Garcia-Käufer
University of Freiburg, Germany
Background & Aim: Laser printers release aerosols into the environment including solid, liquid and gaseous compounds. The
side effects possibly caused by these aerosols are having come under scrutiny. To investigate clinical effects and gene expression
profiles we conducted a controlled human exposure study with laser printer emissions in an office test room.
Methodology: 80 healthy volunteers were exposed to laser printer emissions in 3 hour experiments under controlled conditions
in an 80 m³ office test room over three consecutive days. Lung functions and FeNO and inflammatory blood parameters were
examined before and after exposure. Microarray experiments were conducted with peripheral venous blood using a whole
genome gene chip.
Results: Mean Sub Micrometer Particle (SMP) concentration during printing activities in the test room reached 15379±2799
P/cm³ (background: 1904±540 P/cm³). Lung function and blood parameters for inflammation (ECP, hsCRP) as well as FeNO
showed no differences before and after exposure. The volunteers experienced temporary symptoms, such as irritation of the
eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract, coughing, headache and runny nose. We screened a total of 254 differentially expressed
genes, of which 37 (15%) were down-regulated and 217 (85%) were up-regulated. Of the 217 up-regulated genes, 169 (78%)
were directly related to an individual’s immune regulation or response.
Conclusion: Laser printers emit SMPs particles during printing activity. The aerosols can induce irritation of eyes, skin and
respiratory tract in the volunteers, but we cannot derive any severe acute dangerous health effects from the results of this study.
The microarray study conducted here showed changes in terms of inflammation and immunological reactions in volunteers
after exposure. Our results recommend that office workers should avoid laser printer emissions. Laser printers should be
placed in a separate, well-ventilated room, or at least equipped with appropriate filter techniques.
Recent Publications
1. Tang T, Hurraß J, Gminski R, Mersch Sundermann V (2012) Fine and ultrafine particles emitted from laser printers as
indoor air contaminants in German offices. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int .; 19(9): 3840-3849.
References
1. Karrasch S, Simon M, Herbig B, Langner J, Seeger S, Kronseder A, Peters S, Dietrich G, Gümperlein R, Schierl R, Nowak
D, Jörres R A (2017) Health effects of laser printer emissions: A controlled exposure study. Indoor Air; 1-13.
2. Khatri M, Bello D, Martin J, Bello A, Gore R, Demokritou P, Gaines P (2017) Chronic upper airway inflammation and
systemic oxidative stress from nanoparticles in photocopier operators: Mechanistic insights. NanoImpact; 5: 133-145.
Biography
Volker Mersch Sundermann is a professor at University of Freiburg, Germany.