Health & Safety in the Arts
A Searchable Database of
Health & Safety Information for Artists


Printmaking Techniques
ID Printmaking Tech Ingestion Haz Inhalation Haz Skin Contact Haz Other Hazards Precautions
1 PRINTMAKING INKS




2 Pigments Haz. w/chronic exposure Potential haz. Chromate and cobalt cause irritation Getting pigments in cuts or sores Use ready-made inks; use glove box, respirator; follow good hygiene practices; wash work surfaces
3 Vehicles

Oil vehicles slightly haz, chronically Flammable and may spontaneously combust Don't use open flame; place oil-soaked rags in disposal cans or pails of water
4 Modifiers




5 Ink Reducers




6 Tack Reducers Moderately toxic Moderately toxic Moderately toxic Benzine flammable
7 Stiffeners Not toxic Large amounts haz. Irritant

8 Antiskinning Agents Moderately toxic/highly toxic Highly toxic (aerosols) Slightly irritating/slightly toxic
Avoid lead or manganese driers; take precautions against fire
9 PRINTING




10 Inking and Printing Haz. w/accidental ingestion No hazard, unless old inks dry Haz. if ink gets into sores or cuts Heavy rollers cause back problems Use water-based inks; avoid hand-spreading inks; use barrier cream;practice good hygiene techniques;safety guards
11 Cleanup Moderately toxic Moderately/Highly toxic Moderately toxic Solvents flammable, talc toxic by inhalation Get MSDS's; use safety razor blades to remove ink; use least toxic solvents; wear gloves;use exhaust fan;respirator;avoid talc
12 LITHOGRAPHY




13 Drawing Materials
Solvents moderately toxic,except alcohol (slightly toxic) Lamp black moderately toxic, may cause cancer Airbrushing more hazardous Avoid skin contact w/lamp black and solvents;use ventilation;do airbrushing in spray booth; use respirator
14 Stone Processing
Rosin dust, talc,solvents Gum arabic and acid, can burn Some are carcinogenic;skin irritants Use prepared etches;don't use hydrofluoric acid; wear gloves,goggles,apron;add acid to water,not water to acid;neutralize acids
15 Stone Cleaning Highly toxic Not as serious a hazard Highly corrosive/toxic Phenol can be fatal DON'T USE phenol; wear gloves, goggles, protective apron
16 Metal Plate Processing
Dichromates highly toxic; lacquers haz. Acids irritants; moderately toxic; phenol highly toxic Dichromates probable carcinogens; solvents flammable Avoid phenol,dichromates,gas,concentrated acids; wear gloves,goggles,apron;use exhaust hood, respirator,ventilation
17 Photolithography
Ammonia highly toxic;solvents highly toxic Moderately toxic,eye irritants;solvents highly toxic Carbon arc fumes highly toxic; uv radiation damaging Avoid ammonium dichromate; wear gloves, goggles; use exhaust hood, respirator; don't use carbon arcs; paint walls w/zinc oxide for protection against uv
18 INTAGLIO (Acid Etching)




19 Etching Grounds and Stop-Outs
Xylene highly toxic; rosin dust slightly toxic Xylene absorbed; solvents haz.; asphaltum slightly toxic Xylene flammable; alcohol slightly toxic; PAH's carcinogenic Store solvents in safety cans; use exhaust ventilation; practice good hygiene techniques; use lowest temperature on hot plates to avoid vaporization of PAH's
20 Aquatints
Rosin dust causes allergies; spray paints highly toxic
Rosin and asphaltum dusts explosive Wear respirator; make sure rosin box is sparkproof; wet-mop rosin dusts; use spray hood or respirator, or spray outdoors
21 Etching Process Acids corrosive, highly toxic Highly toxic chlorine gas, nitrogen dioxide haz. Acids corrosive; ferric chloride irritant Acids may be fatal; Reaction. can cause fires; edges can cut Use ferric chloride; store nitric acid & potassium chlorate away from others; wear gloves, goggles, apron; use ventilation; neutralize acids; don't induce vomiting; cover acid baths; use eyewash fountain
22 Photoetching Ether acetates moderately toxic; xylene highly toxic Ethyl acetates highly toxic; xylene highly toxic Ethyl acetates highly toxic; xylene moderately toxic Butyl cellosolve highly toxic, carbon arcs haz. Use presensitized plates; use local exhaust ventilation; wear respirator, gloves; with carbon arcs, use ventilation, wear welding goggles; paint walls with zinc oxide paint to prevent uv radiation reflection
23 INTAGLIO (Drypoint, Engraving, Mezzotint)
Metal dust irritating Cuts from metal Carpel tunnel syndrome; electrical shock Clamp plate to table to prevent slipping; hold tools properly; cut away from body; store tools in canvas holders, with sharp edges embedded in corks; wear respirator; keep tools sharp; rest wrists to avoid carpel tunnel
24 RELIEF PRINTING




25 Woodcuts and Wood Engraving
Wood dusts moderately toxic Woods moderately toxic & skin irritants; tools can cut skin Tools can cause carpel tunnel syndrome Vacuum or mop all wood dust; wear hand creams protective against irritating woods; cut away from you, with hands behind tool; rest wrists to avoid carpel tunnel syndrome; use linoleum cutting instead
26 Linocuts
Solvents moderately toxic Tools less likely to cause cuts; caustic soda corrosive Heated wax and solvents flammable Cut away from you; heat linoleum with electric pad on low heat; wear gloves and goggles; wash hands; avoid open flames; do not let children use caustic soda
27 SCREEN PRINTING




28 Stencils



Paper stencils are the least hazardous, since solvents are not used in their preparation; stencils for water-based inks need to be insoluble in water at room temperature; those for solvent-based inks must be insoluble in ink solvents
29 Resists and Blockouts Methyl alcohol moderately toxic Ethyl alcohol slightly toxic; methyl alcohol moderately toxic; lacquers highly toxic Ethyl alcohol slightly toxic; methyl alcohol moderately toxic; lacquers highly toxic Solvents flammable Water-soluble glues, wax, and frisket are least haz. materials; wear gloves, goggles; wash hands with water, not solvents; use ventilation, respirator; store solvents in closed containers and dispose of daily
30 Film Stencils
Adhering fluids moderately toxic; film removers highly toxic; Isopropyl alcohol slightly toxic Adhering fluids slightly toxic to moderately toxic; film removers toxic Isopropyl alcohol, adhering fluids, film removers flammable Use ventilation with adhering fluids and isopropyl alcohol; use adhering fluids instead of film removers to remove film; follow fire prevention rules
31 Photo Stencils
Ammonium dichromate irritating (probable carcinogen) Ammonium dichromate moderately toxic; diazo eye irritants Carbon arcs highly haz; uv light haz. Wear gloves, goggles; use diazo photemulsions or presensitized emulsions; DO NOT USE carbon arcs; use photoflood or sunlamp instead
32 Screen Printing Inks Mineral spirits moderately toxic; modifiers moderately toxic Mineral spirits moderately toxic; toluene highly toxic; vinyl inks highly toxic Mineral spirits moderately toxic; epoxy inks irritating; retarders moderately toxic Glycol ethers more haz. than propylene/ethylene Use MSDS's; use water-based screen printing inks; use local exhaust ventilation; obey fire prevention rules; empty waste cans daily
33 Printing and Drying
Solvents highly haz.; gases/fumes irritating

Use slot exhaust hood; wear respirator; dry prints in specially ventilated area; use dilution ventilation for postprint curing of fabrics; no ventilation needed for water-based inks
34 Cleanup
Solvent washups highly toxic; mineral spirits moderately toxic; bleach highly toxic Solvents moderately toxic; mineral spirits moderately toxic; bleach moderately toxic Solvents are fire hazards Clean ink off screen before it dries; use acetone, odorless mineral spirits, or lithotine instead of commercial washups; use ventilation and respirator; wear gloves, goggles; prevent fire; dispose of solvent-soaked rags
35 OTHER PRINTING PROCESSES




36 Collagraphs
Organic solvent glues haz.; sanding dusts irritating Organic solvent glues haz. Aerosol spray fixative haz. Avoid more toxic glues; wear gloves; use adequate ventilation; use water-based glues instead of solvent-based; wear dust mask; brush on fixatives, instead of spraying; spray outside, with respirator
37 Plastic Prints Haz. of accidental ingestion of ink
Haz. of ink in cuts and sores
Use water-based inks; don't wipe plates with hands; use barrier hand cream; use good hygiene techniques; use safety guards
38 Monoprints Haz. of accidental ingestion of ink
Haz. of ink in cuts and sores
Use water-based inks; don't wipe plates with hands; use barrier hand cream; use good hygiene techniques; use safety guards






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Disclaimer
This information set forth herein is furnished free of charge and is based on public domain information that is believed to be reliable. The City of Tucson makes no warranty as to the completeness or accuracy thereof. The information is to be used at an individual's own risk.
This web site is sponsored by the City of Tucson's Environmental Management Division through an Environmental Justice Grant.

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