Short of living life in a plastic bubble, you can't completely avoid risks in your everyday life. The best you can do is to minimize the damage. What risk is there in printing, you ask? Read on.

“…some studies show that laser printers emit large amounts of particulate matter into the air while a printing job is in progress. Even more, if that matter is breathed in, it could be harmful to you. So, where does that matter come from? Well, it comes from toner, which is what laser printers use as ink. Other studies have said that the particles released into the air are very similar to cigarette smoke and motor vehicle emissions. With that in mind, it's possible the matter could get deep into your lungs and eventually, your bloodstream. Yikes!"

The author recommends:

• Put your printer in a room that is not used all the time by you or your family.

• If that's not feasible, try to place your laser printer by a window and open it while printing.

• If you're printing a lengthy document or something that will take awhile, don't sit and wait for it to get done. Move to another room in your house.

• Turn the printer off when you're finished using it.