Assessment of pollutant emissions from dry-process photocopiers

Processes involved in pollutant emissions from a dry-process photocopier ha ve been investigated in a controlled room dynamic environmental chamber. Vo latile organic compound (VOC) emissions occurred at a constant rate depende nt on copy speed. However, VOC emission rates per copy were increased by in creases in chamber temperature (e.g., a 20% increase resulted from increasi ng temperature from 23 degrees C to 32 degrees C) or changing from single- to double-sided operation (40% increase). Respirable particle emissions occ urred under copier-idle mode (probably from residues in the machine) as wel l as with copying. No significant chamber sink effects were observed for VO Cs or respirable particles. Small emissions of nitrogen dioxide, ozone and formaldehyde were observed but were difficult to interpret. A procedure for assessing pollutant emissions from photocopiers is recommended.