Print regulation

Code of Federal Regulations, Tide 21, part 500—599, and Federal Register, Superintendent for Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 

Occupational Safety and Health J ct. OSHA regulations deal principally with physical aspects of safety and those things generally associated with accident prevention. These federal regulations deal especially with the need for estabHshed material safety data sheets and the proper labeling of printing inks under the Hazard Communication Laws. 

Outlook. Total 1991 U.S. ink consumption was estimated at about 86 x 10 kg valued at over 3.0 biUion. The demand is estimated to grow at an average of about 3—4% per year in volume (26). The principal changes expected in the 1990s will continue to be in response to environmental and safety concerns and government regulations. The bulk of printing inks use raw materials based on fossil fuels, such as coal (qv) and petroleum (qv). 

A primary source of environmental pollution from printing ink comes from the metal-based pigments used, as well as various resins, waxes, and drying agents that are also part of the inks. These materials are added to inks regardless of the source of the oil. As a result, petroleum inks are just as suitable for landfill disposal under U.S. EPA regulations as are vegetable oil inks. 

Solvent Recovery. Most of the activated carbon used in gas-phase applications is employed to prevent the release of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. Much of this use has been in response to environmental regulations, but recovery and recycling of solvents from a range of industrial processes such as printing, coating, and extmsion of fibers also provides substantial economic benefits. 

N. A. Eskin, H. M. Henderson, and R. J. Townsend, Biochemistry of Foods, Academic Press, New York, 1981 Code of Federal Regulations, Tide 21, Part 182, Subpart D, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1990. 

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