The Harm of Printing Ink to Human Body

The harm of ink to human body

Printing ink is often used in ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, propanol, butanone, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, xylene and other BAI solvent. Although most of these organic solvents will be eliminated after drying. The residual parts can still cause harm to human body. Especially on the ink area, thick ink layer of the printed matter, the residual solvent is more. In the use of toxic substances released in the process of air pollution, harm to people’s health.

A big problem with ink pollution is pigments.These pigment particles are very small.  Strong adsorption capacity, which contains lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury and other heavy metal elements, all have certain toxicity. Take lead as an example, a page of color newspaper contains about 2000 micrograms of lead. Lead is the only trace element not needed by the human body.  Its nature is stable, non-degradable, block the formation of blood cells. When the lead accumulation in the human body to a certain extent. There will be mental disorders, nightmares, insomnia, headache and other chronic poisoning symptoms, severe fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, diarrhea and so on. Lead can also enter brain tissue through the bloodstream and cause brain damage. According to research, children’s absorption of lead is several times higher than adults. Lead poison has a greater impact on children’s intelligence.

In addition, the use of a large number of diluents containing benzene when printing, with toxic, irritating odor is large. And it is easy to pollute the air when used, long-term inhalation will affect the central nervous system of the brain.  That will cause great harm to human health.

Traditional ink

How to prevent ink pollution

To prevent ink pollution, first of all, to close their own, usually pay attention to the following matters: in the selection of books and newspapers; printing quality is poor; ink smell punchy best not to buy; especially some pirated books using inferior ink; when reading harmful substances are inhaled body, very bad for health; Keep good posture when reading a book or newspaper. Don’t leave your face too close to the book or newspaper. In addition, do not read the newspaper while eating.  It is easy to eat the pollutants in the ink; Wash your hands immediately after reading a newspaper to avoid contaminating food and other items with ink. Do not use books and newspapers to wrap items, especially food. Do not use newspaper pad food. Some plastic bags on the text and patterns are easy to fade. These often stick to the hands or other items, such bags should be immediately discarded.  Do not use repeatedly; Special attention needs to be paid to the fact that many children often hold packaged snacks in their hands, which are vulnerable to the harm of lead in the ink. Parents should try to reduce the opportunity for their children to contact the ink.

The use of green ink is fundamental

However, to prevent ink pollution from the source, we should also strengthen the management of the printing industry.In order to fundamentally improve the impact on the environment, we should change the composition of the ink, that is, as far as possible to use environmentally friendly materials to prepare new environmentally friendly ink.

Scientific researchers in various countries are stepping up the development of this aspect. At present, there are three main categories of environment-friendly ink, namely water-based ink, UV ink and water-based UV ink.The biggest difference between water-based ink and solvent-based ink is that the solvents used in water-based ink are water rather than organic solvents, which have no pollution to the environment and no adverse effects on human health.

According to relevant data reports, in the United States and some European countries have banned the use of benzene solvent-based ink, replaced by green environmental protection ink.Currently, 40 percent of plastic printing in the United States uses water-based inks.

Anyhow in printing factory job is not a good job is, it is difficult to look for work and do not have technical specialist to do commonly.

Can’t do the time too long, especially opening agent, wiped the word water, washing net water, great harm to the respiratory system, also to the skin is bad, easy to premature aging, the stimulation of the stomach is very big also, still have even if also have harm to the physiological aspect, generally work for a year or two will not have too great harm, but time is long again, is a great harm to the body.

Starsplas has been working on the research and development of water-based ink used in PVC printed film for 10 years, and related test report shows the environmental conservation of water-based ink.

Research and development on water-based ink by Starsplas

1. Material of high concern: traditional printed film and water-based ink printed film meet the requirements of REACH regulations.

REACH test of printed film

2. Chemical composition: the composition of water-based ink color film is more environmentally friendly than the composition of solvent-based ink color film.

Ingredient list of printing ink

3. Environmental performance: water-based ink color film environmental indicators fully meet the environmental mark detection standards, 0 formaldehyde, 0 benzene containing solvents, 0 harmful substances residues.

Environmental Labeling Product Certification and Testing Report

More details about water-based printing ink: http://www.starsplas.com/difference-between-traditional-ink-and-water-based-ink-in-spc-flooring-industry/

Videos of pinted film production process details about water-based printing ink: https://youtu.be/yUrfRB7HAY4