Hewlett-Packard, the world’s largest printer maker, on Friday came out strongly against an Australian study that blamed certain laser jet printers for emitting dangerous micro particles, possibly causing health problems, including cancer.

The Palo Alto, California-based computer and printer maker responded by issuing a press statement, flatly rejecting the findings of the study conducted by a group of Australian scientists from the Queensland University of Technology.

The study, published earlier this week, claimed that laser printers used in offices and homes could emit extra-fine particles that can reach deep into the lungs of the users and cause respiratory problems and can also cause cardiovascular problems.

Lead researcher Lidia Morawska, Ph.D. and colleagues at Queensland University in Australia said the emissions from office laser printers may prove to be as damaging as cigarette smoke.

People inhale those tiny particles of toner-like material release into the air by printers and suffer health problems, ranging from respiratory irritation to more severe illnesses, such as cardiovascular problems or cancer, the scientists said.

But, rejecting all the claims, HP said in its statement, "We do not believe there is a link between printer emissions and any public health risk."

“After a preliminary review of the Queensland University of Technology research on particle emission characteristics of office printers, HP does not agree with its conclusion or some of the bold claims the authors have made recently in press reports," said the company.

In their study, the researchers looked at a single office building in Brisbane, Australia, and identified the laser jet printers as the source of most of the airborne particulates. In the paper, the researchers detailed emission measurements of 58 laser printers inside the observed office.

After conducting tests on 62 printers, they ranked the machines as non-, low-, medium- or high-emitters. Of the total 17 tested printers were found to be ‘high emitters’ of toner particles while 37 of them were classified as non-emitters and eight as medium or low emitters. Photocopiers however, were not indicted of any emissions despite making use of similar technology.

HP’s LaserJet 1320 and 4250 were classified as the high emitters, which at the time of printing, increased the particle number in the surrounding air more than tenfold.

However, disagreed with the claims, HP said it does not see an association between printer use by customers and negative health effects for volatile organic compounds, ozone or dust. "While we recognize ultrafine, fine, and coarse particles are emitted from printing systems, these levels are consistently below recognized occupational exposure limits."

Calling the Australian study in adequate, HP said that testing ultrafine particles is a very new scientific discipline and there are not clear indications that those emissions are actually a health risk.

The company urged for broader testing and said it is already working with Air Quality Sciences in the United States and the Wilhelm-Klauditz Institute in Germany to conduct the similar research.