Conference 7.286::digital

    If there are rules for LN03 placement in the workplace, I'm sure
    it would come as a shock to folk around here.  There are 4 LN03s
    in my immediate area -- two are sitting next to secretaries, and
    two are in a single cube bordering other specialist's cubes.
    
    I did a residency with US Postal where LN03's were placed where
    ever there was sufficient room.  No rules for placement seemed to
    exist.  So, if the _government_ has no rules about it (gov't has rules
    about _everything_ you can think of!), I doubt that we do.
    
    FWIW, IMHO
    
    -- Russ

    Last fall we received a memo from CMAS Health and Safety, informing
    folks that very small amounts of ozone could be emitted from LN03-class
    printers. This was particularly likely for printers that have not been
    maintained properly. Also, the memo urged that printers not be located
    so that the exhaust was vented directly at an employee. Finally, it was
    suggested that the printers be turned off at night. After talking with
    them, we learned that this was most important for floor-to-celing
    offices; regular office cubes have adequete circulation. 
    
    So, keep 'em clean and tuned, aim them away from people's faces, and
    don't close them.

    Rick Merrill @ regent::merrill is the guru on LN03s and environment
    - I have mailed him re this note.
    
    john evans

    I believe there are some requirements.  I know that the maintenance
    kits for the LNO3 had to have an additional filter put in to 
    reduce/eliminate the ozone emission.
    
    A group to contact is Corporate Product Safety & Regulations at
    the Mill.  Person to talk to is Bob Johnson...223-4424.
    
    /\/\
    
    

    Since Rick is in a course this week, I'll answer for him.  The LN03
    has always had a filter that converted the ozone produced into
    ordinary oxygen.  U.S. machines now have *two* such filters.  Part
    of every LN03's maintenance should be the vacuuming of these filters
    (which also prevents an oval white patch from burning into the print
    (OPC) belt and ruining it).
    
    						Ann B.

    Actually, the ozone filters are replaced with every maintenance
    kit installation, every 10,000 copies.  So it's very important to
    replace the filter, not only for copy quality, but for filter
    replacement. 
    
    The screen that needs to be vacuumed is actually behind the ozone
    filter.

                <<< SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]LN03.NOTE;1 >>>
                      -< LN03 and LN03-PLUS conference! >-
================================================================================
Note 28.7              Toner, Ozone, radioactivity safety                7 of 20
RAJA::PATTENDEN                                      28 lines  16-JAN-1986 12:20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ozone, O subscript 3, is a blue gaseous allotrope of oxygen, derived or
formed naturally from diatomic (O sub. 2, ordinary atmospheric oxygen) by
electric discharge or exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Used to purify 
and deodorize air, to sterilize water and as a bleach. American Heritage 
dictionary.
The LN03 uses an electrical corona discharge to charge the OPC belt, and
also uses a UV laser, so it probably does generate some Ozone. If I remember
my schoolboy chemistry correctly, Ozone is not toxic or poisonous, but is
a very active form of oxygen and could increase corrosion (rusting etc) if 
in a high concentration. Simply leave the filter in, and change it at the 
routine maintainance. Ozone can sometimes be detected during a thunderstorm
but the "Ozone" that people claim makes a beach so healthy is probably
mainly the smell of rotting garbage !.
Reference the toner. Tne LN03 was recently on shipping hold (I believe -
don't quote me) because Safety could not accept Ricoh's safety sheet.
DEC did it's own tests and the hold was lifted. I dont have a copy of the
new sheet, but I'm sure the hold would not have been lifted if there was 
any problem. (If any body has a sheet, notes might be a good place to 
publish it). Clearly it dosn't make sense to deliberately inhale the
powder, but just yesterday I cleaned up a carton that I dropped with 
no problems. ONLY use a vacuum cleaner approved for toner - the powder
can melt in a normal cleaner and can gum it up. I have never seen any
evidence that "fumes" are given of by the toner. It seems to be one of
those stories that circulate no matter what tests are performed and
published.
If anyone has a LN03, and are still worried that it will affect them, they
can drop it off on my desk....


                <<< SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]LN03.NOTE;1 >>>
                      -< LN03 and LN03-PLUS conference! >-
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Note 28.8              Toner, Ozone, radioactivity safety                8 of 20
RANI::LEICHTERJ                                      11 lines  17-JAN-1986 00:31
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Ozone is poisoness.  In low concentrations, it is an irritant, causing things
like itchy eyes.  High concentrations can be deadly - though you'd have to
go quite high.  Basically, it's an active gas that likes to combine with
things - like chemicals in the cells of your lungs.  I don't know what
the long-term effects of low-level exposure are, but they aren't good.

The LN03 has a "filter" that looks unimportant.  It's actually contains a
catalyst that "eats up" ozone.  The warnings in the documentation about not
operating the LN03 without the "filter" are ther for a good reason!

							-- Jerry

                <<< SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]LN03.NOTE;1 >>>
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Note 28.9              Toner, Ozone, radioactivity safety                9 of 20
ARSON::PREBLE                                        12 lines  17-JAN-1986 08:28
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I have noticed the ozone smell, which is very distinctive and unique,
coming from the LN03 from time to time.  I learned to recognized this
smell because when I was young my dad had an early version of a black
light that emitted LOTS of ozone.

When I smell it, I replace the filter, if I can find one.  I usually
start smelling it BEFORE it is time to change the OPC belt, etc.

Maybe the filter should be made available as a separate item, Pat ...

Harry Preble
DECmate S/W Eng.


================================================================================
 RAJA::MERRILL                Do It With Mirrors!             27-NOV-1985 14:38 
 Note 138.8                     -< NOISY FAN >-                          8 of 9 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE LN03 is an OXYGEN MACHINE!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This advertisement in "Smithsonian" magazine applies to the LN03!


"BREAKTHROUGH: TAKE THE HEADACHES OUT OF HIGH ALTITUDES.

Planes going a long distance fly at high altitudes to conserve fuel.
But at those altitudes, some oxygen atoms cluster together in threes to form
ozone that can give passengers headaches and respiratory problems.

"Our engineers reasoned that it is easier to pull the ozone apart than to build
heavy filters to keep it out.  A concept was developed using catalytic screens
in the air ducts to attract the atoms to reform as oxygen and literally turning
a noxious gas into a breath of fresh air.

... material used is Deoxo, catalyst substrate oxone abater manufactured by
Englehard Corporation Specialty Chemicals Division."

	- MCDONNELL DOUGLAS

    
    Here is a mail I recieved about ozone from LN03 printers. Note that in
    this case LN03-PLUS printers were much worse then ordinary LN03s.
    
    It indicates that measured ozone concentrations near the LN03-PLUS
    printers were higher than the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) and higher
    than the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL).
    
    Suggested solutions - ensure proper maintenance (replacement of
    filters) and good ventilation. 
    
    Jay
    
    
[Intervening mail headers deleted]


From:	NAME: CMAS Hlth & Safety            
	FUNC: MRO3-2/P17              
	TEL: 297-4715             <TAYLOR.ANITA AT A1 at FRICK at MRO>

To:	See Below


In response to an employee complaint, an air quality investigation was
conducted on Sept. 27, 1988, in the area of MRO2-2/D14. 

The area in question is an enclosed, floor to ceiling office.  About four
employees work in the room.  There are two laser printers; an LNO3 and an
LNO3-PLUS.  The door to the room is kept closed at night, but the printers
are left on.  The employees complained that in the morning there is a heavy
smell.  Also some of the employees felt that when the printers were being
used heavily, there was an odor.  The odors have gotten worse, since the
printers were moved from their original location under the eggcrate exhaust
opening, to their present location near the door.  The move was apparently
necessary to accommodate some new file cabinets. There are also four
printers located just outside the office door, three LNO3 Script Printers,
and an LNO3-PLUS.  All printers are apparently used heavily. 

At my request, both printers were put into operation.  After a few 
minutes of use, there was a noticable odor in the vicinity of the printers.

Air sampling for ozone was conducted at both laser printers using a Draeger 
pump.  All readings were taken at the printer exhaust.  
Results were as follows:

Sample #	Location			Results in parts per
                                                 million (ppm)
__________	_____________________________	______________________

1		LNO3-PLUS (by the door)         	0.05

2		Same as above, a few minutes		0.08 - 0.1
		  later

3		The adjacent LNO3 printer		None detected

4		LNO3 Script Printer, just outside	< 0.05
                the door

5		LNO3-PLUS, outside the door,		0.08 - 0.1
                adjacent to Script Printer



Discussion and Recommendations
_________________________________

Ozone is an irritant of the mucous membranes and lungs.  Effects of ozone
exposure range from headache and minor irritation of the upper respiratory
tract (at exposures less than 0.1 ppm) to severe pulmonary edema (at
relatively short exposures of just a few ppm).  Low level exposure to ozone
may also exacerbate respiratory tract diseases or infections. 

Ozone rapidly breaks down in the environment, so concentrations are highest 
in the area of generation.

The ozone standard or TLV is an eight hour time weighted average of 0.1 
ppm.  There is also a short term exposure limit (STEL) of 0.3 ppm.  These
standards reflect those concentrations to which nearly all employees may be 
exposed without adverse effect. 

The sampling conducted indicates that the LNO3-PLUS printers seem to emit 
ozone at higher levels than the other laser printers.  People working in 
the area of these printers, would be expected to notice the odor and in the 
case of susceptible individuals, be affected by it.  

I have contacted the Digital Product Safety Group and the Digital 
Industrial Hygiene, Safety and Toxicology Group.  In the meantime, I 
offer the following recommendations:

1.  Either replace or repair the two LNO3-PLUS printers.  It is possible 
that the problem simply involves these two printers, and not the whole 
line of LNO3-PLUSes. 

Contact me after repair or replacement so that I can conduct additional
sampling.

Until they are replaced or repaired:

	2.  Turn the printers off at night.

	3.  Make sure that proper maintenance, i.e. filter replacement, is
	being done as recommended.  There is a counter in the machine, at
	certain counts the belt and filter should be replaced. 

	4.  Move the LNO3-PLUS outside of the enclosed office area.  Try to
	keep them in as large an area as possible, for maximum ventilation. 
	If this is not possible, contact Plant Engineering and request that 
	they move the eggcrate exhaust to a location directly over the 
	LNO3-PLUS.

Distribution List:
    
    [distribution list removed]
                 
                                              

        You can determine nothing meaningful about about the relative
        "goodness" or "badness" of the LNO3 compared to the LN03-Plus
        through the sampling technique used here.  There are too few
        printers involved, too few samples were taken from each, and
        no effort was made to assure a common baseline (e.g., changing
        the ozone filters on both printers).
        
        In fact, the LN03, LN03-Plus, and LN03R all share the same basic
        print engine.  There are differences in the electronics that
        control the printing, but not in the parts that create the ozone. 
        So it's extremely unlikely that a properly designed experiment
        would ever detect consistent differences among them.
        
        So the topic title on 772.8 is misleading.  There's simply no way
        to tell from the data presented whether there's a pattern. 
        
        This doesn't mean that the advice about proper ventilation is not
        sound -- that's good advice.  And it's important to change the
        ozone filters when doing periodic maintenance.  That's why they're
        in the kit. 
        
        Tom

    RE: whoever would like to speculate...
    
    I sit about a foot and a half from my LNO3 Plus.  I cannot detect
    any odor coming from it.  It has been in my office since about
    August of last year.  In October of last year I started experiencing
    severe bronchial problems (ie. chronic bronchitis).  I have no 
    previous history of any lung disorders, I don't smoke and I have
    no known allergies.  
    
    My question is...could I be experiencing lung irritation even though
    I can't actually smell the ozone?  I am familar with the smell of
    ozone so it's not like I don't know what to look (smell) for.
    
    Jodi-

        I'm not a medical doctor, but I wouldn't be surprised if ozone
        levels below what you can easily smell might be enough to cause
        bronchial problems.  But there may be other causes.  You could
        ask your site's health services and/or environmental safety
        persons to check out your office area.
        
        Tom

    Chemists tell me there are actually several "kinds" of ozone: some
    smell and the "pure" stuff doesn't! 
    
    An LN03 XXXX with TWO fresh ozone catalysts (they're actually NOT
    "filters") can actually REDUCE the total ozone in a room. There
    are also two styles of LN03 XXXX: one that takes the two catalysts
    and one that uses only one!
    
    I have to agree with .11: if it bothers you, have it checked.
    
    	RMM
    
    
    

    RE: .11/.12
    
    Thanks for your replies.
    
    Out here in the field (southern California) I'm not sure we have
    an environmental safety person or health services.  I'll have to
    check on that.
    
    I'm already trying to figure out where to move this beast so that
    it is still handy without it dumping it's exhaust on me.  I've been 
    coughing for almost six months and wouldn't it be something if all 
    I needed to do was move my printer? 

    Jodi (cough cough) Newell
    

    
    	   I recently read that excessive exposure to ozone induces
    	a hardening of the lining of the lung, thus making it more
    	susceptible to disease and irritation.  Common sources of
    	ozone can be found on every freeway, tollway and highway.
    	Getting stuck in traffic can aggravate any symptoms you 
    	might already be experiencing.  The same holds true for a 
    	day in an ozone filled office, assuming the levels are 
    	sufficiently high.  
    
    	- Greg