Ask a doctor on the topic of Occupational medicine

Laminating machine

May 13, 2013 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good evening!
In our office, we have a laminating machine that is occasionally used to cover worksheets with transparency film.
During the thermal bonding of the adhesive of the plastic film with the worksheets under pressure and heat, some unhealthy fumes are certainly produced. However, since the machine is located in a separate room, I believe the exposure is acceptable.
However, today I started to worry.
We had a big cleaning day, and I cleaned the laminating room. The machine had been sitting there for ages, never been moved.
To make some space, I pulled the laminating machine towards me with force, passing it close to my face. This resulted in a cloud of sharp chemical or plastic smell or dust particles entering my mouth and nose, which I probably inhaled.
I suspect these are residues/tiny particles from the adhesive process that accumulate in the machine during laminating and were stirred up by the sudden movement.
Now I am concerned whether this (once-in-this-form) inhalation could have harmed me in the long term (malignant diseases, tumors, etc.).
Is the concern justified or just a false alarm?

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good evening,

I can assure you: no harm has been done to you! The respiratory tract has very effective mechanisms to remove harmful dust. These are made harmless with mucus and then transported upwards and outwards by the movement of small cilia.

Only if this mechanism is disturbed by decades of cigarette smoking, can inhalation of harmful substances make it easier for an infection to occur; but not after the minimal exposure you experienced, and certainly not to a malignant disease. Therefore, you don't need to worry at all.

In terms of occupational safety, the adhesive fumes are also analyzed before allowing such laminating machines, as they are used for hours in some workplaces. The adhesives are not toxic, they just smell bad.

Best regards, Dr. Frauke Höllering