Ozone: Silent Menace

Ozone is a gas, produced when oxygen meets a high-voltage electrical charge, like those produced in laser printers. You may have noticed its sharp metallic odor around an old electric motor that's sparking brightly. In smaller concentrations, most people may be unable to detect the presence of the gas.

Since lots of people are worried about ozone holes in the atmosphere, maybe it's good news that laser printers are replenishing the supply, right?

Wrong! Ozone is bad news. Anything over a few tenths of a part per million can cause nausea, headaches, fatigue, dryness in throat, eyes, and other mucous membranes. British and Danish scientists studied offices containing copiers and laser printers, and discovered ozone concentrations 10 times over what's considered safe. The risk seems greatest in poorly ventilated areas. Apple Computer and Hewlett-Packard, both major manufacturers of laser printers, recommend ozone filter replacement.

Got a problem?

Operation of laser printers under the following conditions may generate an ozone problem:

• More than one laser printer or copier per 1000 cubic feet
• Humidity lower than 30%
• More than 2 hours for complete air change
• Ozone filter in poor condition
• Presence of overly sensitive workers
• Long, continuous printing

Ozone can hurt your laser printer.

Ozone trapped inside the toner cartridge can destroy the charge generation and transfer layers, as well as the polymeric coating on the drum surface. The chemicals which make up these photoactive layers are all susceptible to ozone.

Blurred images can be an early warning indicating the need for ozone filter replacement.

Ozone can harm your health.

Telltale signs that ozone is affecting you:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Congestion, coughing
• Heightened allergy sensitivity
• Chest pains
• Wheezing
• Impaired breathing capacity
• Watery eyes

Safe ozone limits

Underwriter's Laboratories Inc. has established limits on ozone emissions. They've stated that the average time-weighted concentration of ozone shall not be more than 0.1 part per million. "Normal conditions" means that a test should be performed at the operator's position in the center of a closed room of 1000 cubic feet, with a temperature of 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity of 30%-60%, with an 0.5 complete air change per hour.

So when do I change my ozone filter?

• When your printer's specified page count has been exceeded
• When you smell ozone or experience ozone side effects
• Every 12 months

Who can do the dirty work?

That's where we come in. We're Ameri-Tech Concepts and Landmark Ameri-Tech. We know laser printers. We sell them, upgrade them, service them, and consult on them. We rebuild toner cartridges, too, so we really understand the complexities of laser printers. Bring your printer in, or call us and we'll do the work on-site for you. Either contact us by e-mail or call us at (703) 321- 4944 and we'll give you the particulars on cleaning up your printer's ozone problem. Ameri-Tech does the printer work for Landmark clients and can be reached at order@ameri-techconcepts.com. Landmark is the computer specialist; write us at landmark@landmark.org.

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url: http://www.landmark.org/ozone.html

Last update 5-22-98.