Subject: Re: paper mulch is a negative (0/1)
From: geovot@[Remove_this_to_Reply]ix.netcom.com (George V)
Organization: Netcom
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 1997 17:37:17 GMT
Message-ID: <MOD$970824.12984@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970817.26038@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$970819.7525@rec.gardens.ecosystems>


On Wed, 20 Aug 97 00:10:27, geovot@[Remove_this_to_Reply]ix.netcom.com
(George V) wrote:

>
>On Sun, 17 Aug 97 23:37:27, "Susan K. Snow" wrote:
>
>>
>>According to a 1986 publication by the Environmental Research Foundation
>>entitled What Chemicals Each Industry Uses and based on the state of New
>>Jersey Right to Know law, there are polychlorinated biphenyls in a wide
>>variety of printing inks. Whether or not PCBs are in newsprint, I know
>>not.
>>
>>I have read, however, from EPA's own documents, that lead and cadmium
>>are among the toxic metals in pigments. Printing inks are pigments, are
>>they not.
>>
>>Another item I learned recently is that PCBs are used in the manufacture
>>of paper.
>>
>>I would suggest using leaves, and tree instead.
>>
>>For what it's worth
>>
>>Susan Snow
>Contact your local newspaper and ask if they use soy ink.
>see attached files.

Sorry, Didn't realize this is a no attachment group.
Info on Soy Ink can be found http:\\Www.soyink.com
Also,
Here is the text from a related file.

> Comments to the WebMaster [Image][Image]
>
> [Image] Environmentally Friendlier Ink
> April 1993
>
>For decades, printing ink has been made of petroleum-based chemicals.
>However, in recent years, in response to increasing demand for an
>environmentally favorable substitute to petroleum, ink manufacturers have
>been experimenting with various types of vegetable oils, including tung,
>linseed, chinawood, olive, cottonseed, safflower, and palm. The most
>promising petroleum substitute in use right now is soybean oil.
>
>There are several reasons which make soy ink a more environmentally
>attractive choice. Soy ink produces fewer VOC's (volatile organic compounds
>- dangerous vapors released during the drying process) than conventional
>inks. Also, soy inks have better color properties over conventional inks
>because the soy oil is lighter in color than petroleum oil, and therefore,
>less pigment is necessary to create the desired color. Finally, soy ink
>uses a renewable resource, soybeans, which are domestically produced.
>
>Unfortunately, soy inks are not a perfect substitute for petroleum-based
>inks and may not be as environmentally friendly as might be expected. This
>is because soy inks may only contain a small amount of soybean oil relative
>to the petroleum-based chemicals found in the "soy ink". According to the
>American Soybean Association, for ink to qualify as soy-based, the minimum
>acceptable content of soybean oil in the ink is 20% for sheet-fed inks and
>10% for heat-set inks. In newspaper inks, soybean oil may replace up to
>100% of the petroleum oil. However, in other applications such as sheet-
>fed inks, soybean oil may only replace a small portion of the volatile
>solvent (petroleum product).
>
>Soy inks are most troublesome with sheet-fed and heat-set web printing
>processes. The basic reason for the difficulty is that soybean oil does not
>evaporate as quickly as petroleum. In sheet-fed printing, the more soybean
>oil used in the inks, the slower its drying properties. Thus, it is
>somewhat more difficult, but possible, to use soy inks for sheet-fed
>printing. In heat-set web printing, the difficulties are more severe.
>Slower drying results in the need to use a more tacky ink which leads to
>problems such as the fibers or coating being pulled from the paper and left
>on the blanket or in the ink train. It also leads to time consuming
>post-curing, tracking (marking or rubbing) in the in-line folders, and
>blocking on banded signatures.
>
>Ink manufacturers are continuing their research and development efforts on
>soybean and other vegetable-based inks. We expect that they will eventually
>solve the problems currently experienced in the use of soybean inks, thus
>benefiting us all by making it possible to produce an attractive printed
>product in a cleaner, safer, environment.
>
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