Case studies on the risk assessment of hazardous effect of photocopier machine in Guwahati city, India Dutta Uma*, Deka Mayurakshi Department of Zoology, Cotton College, Guwahati, India *Corresponding author: umadutta@yahoo.com
Online published on 2 July, 2012. Abstract In the present scenario, photo-imaging in any documentation and records has become a part and parcel of life across the world today. It is performed by Xerox machine that are suspected to emit volatile organic compounds, toner dust as well as other chemicals such as styrene, iron oxide, black carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon etc. These may become the potential source of pollutant gases. Thereby, it also represents a risk of health hazards of the employees and general public. Owing to extensive application of photocopier on daily basis, the present study was undertaken to investigate the risk assessment of Xerox toner dust on the health of operators in certain areas of Guwahati where the machines are used in an extensive way. The present work was executed through case studies by conducting a survey on individual interview with standard questionnaire. The result was analyzed on the basis of initial, short term and long term exposure during machine operation. Out of 150 studied cases, 88 cases were recorded as affected along with 62 normal cases. Middle age group i.e., 25–45 years were affected mostly. Symptoms were generally nausea, backbone pain, eye irritation, loss of hair, running of noses in initial exposure whereas headache, dizziness, itching of body, skin loss of palm, pharyngeal mucosa, respiratory problem and asthma like cough were recorded in the individuals exposed to long term machine operation. Some striking cases revealed gastric ulcer and allergic rhinitis and obstructive respiratory disease with ‘Lung overloading’ that might be caused from photo copier dust. Depending on the photo copier utility as “urgent need for documentation” in the present day as well as concern with the risk of hazardous impact on public health, a thorough investigation both in experimentation and a detailed survey works are essentially required in this line, which may lead to establish some unwanted physical disorders. Top Keywords Photocopy, Documentation, Health hazards, Respiratory problem, Lung overloading. Top |