April 23, 2008—AQS has released a new research report, “Meeting Green: The Office Equipment Industry’s Guide to Managing Product Emissions,” to inform the public and guide manufacturers in understanding the types of indoor contaminants emitted from electronic office equipment and the health impacts associated with chemical and particulate emissions.
The report also reviews the available third party certification programs and their respective eco-criteria. In addition, the technology and testing protocols for measuring chemical and particulate emissions and for establishing the health risks associated with these emissions are discussed.
“Manufacturers are finding that creating products that meet specific eco-criteria can be an important differentiator in the marketplace. Some manufacturers are going a step further and demonstrating compliance by earning third-party certification from GREENGUARD or Blue Angel,” said Dr. Marilyn Black, Chief Scientist of AQS.
According to AQS, volatile organic compounds are known to cause eye, nose and throat irritation; cough; headache; general flu-like illnesses; and skin irritation; and some can cause cancer with repeated exposure. Inhaling particulates can cause similar irritation and increase the risk for such respiratory illnesses as asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
This research report is available free of charge from the Aerias-AQS IAQ Resource Center Web site.
