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

Objectives This study aimed to document adverse health effects among office, copy, and print shop workers using the Nano-Control, International Foundation Survey. Methods Self-reported information on 16 health outcomes and three surrogate exposure variables were collected from 1998 individuals between 1999 and 2010. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, gender, and smoking status, assessed the association between printer exposure and health symptoms. Results Among the participants, 61.9% were office workers, 5.5% were technicians, and 23.3% held other professions. Technicians had a higher risk for cancer compared to office workers (odds ratio [OR], 2.5; P < 0.01). Visible toner dust exposure was associated with chronic fatigue (OR, 9.6; P < 0.01), bronchial hyperresponsiveness (OR, 5.1; P < 0.01), cardiovascular diseases (OR, 3.6; P < 0.01), asthma, allergies, and other diseases (OR range, 1.4–3.2; P < 0.01). Conclusions The increased chronic and acute health risks among these workers warrant further investigations of causal associations.