Re: [papercreters] "Papercrete Kills" ink issues?

As far as the ink is concerned, I was under the impression that most of the ink used nowadays is made of vegetable products.

John Annesley <John@AnnesleyPhoto.com> wrote:

The facts of portland cement manufacture, as presented by the EPA follows. Below that
are study results regarding human contact with portland cement as a product, as in when
mixing it and breathing the dust, having the dust on your skin, touching wet portland and
all that as is common during the papercrete making process. This post was made as a
response to folks who pointed out that asphalt emulsion contains bad stuff, and that 12
states don't believe it to be non-toxic. Well, everyone everywhere with any knowledge of
the topic, knows (not believes) portland cement to be toxic from manufacture to end user
contact. The same is true of printer's ink which is in most of the waste paper being used
in papercrete. The very end of this post has gov. info on printer's ink. Here's the EPA info,
followed by the rest...

The EPA says cement production results in emissions of air toxics such as arsenic,
cadmium, chromium, lead, benzene, toulene, dioxins/furans, hexane, and formaldehyde.
"Exposure to these compounds may be associated with a number of adverse health
effects, including cancer, respiratory illness, and nervous system, dermal, developmental,
and/or reproductive effects." Also, "Exposure to particulate matter (emitted from portland
cement plants) has been linked with adverse health effects, including aggravation of
existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease and increased risk of premature death."
Hydrocarbons are released from portland cement kilns annually, "Some of these
hydrocarbons are volatile organic compounds, which can contribute to the formation of
ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone can cause a variety of health problems because
it damages lung tissue, reduces lung function, and makes the lungs susceptible to other
irritants."

As for contact with the product we put in papercrete, portland cement in bags:

As the UK government reports regarding portland cement: "Since the early 1990s, a
number of relevant cancer cohort and case control studies have been published,
conducted in groups exposed to cement either through employment in cement
manufacturing or in the construction industry. These studies have identified
associations between cement exposure and cancers at several specific sites:
the stomach, lungs, colon, and head/neck." One study by North Carolina's OSHA
regarding PC states: " Inhalation of dry Portland cement may cause irritation to the moist
mucous membranes of the nose, throat and upper respiratory system, or may cause or
aggravate certain lung diseases or conditions. Although Portland cement is not recognized
as a carcinogen by NTP, OSHA, or IARC, it contains crystalline silica and hexavalent
chromium, which are recognized as carcinogens by these organizations." Also the report
says, " Portland cement is considered a hazardous chemical under OSHA's Hazard
Communication standard, 29CFR 1910.1200 (HAZCOM), and should be included in the
employer's hazard communication program. Employers whose employees are exposed to
Portland cement must provide appropriate training, maintain labels and copies of MSDSs
for Portland cement in their workplaces, and ensure that these documents are readily
accessible during each work shift."

Here's an article about settlement of a hexavalent chromium suit filed by AFL-CIO, the
Laborer's International Union of North America, and the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters against OSHA. It details the safety precautions now required on job sites
nationwide if portland cement is used.

(Note: the author --that would be me-- uses portland cement regularly in the
construction trades and doesn't feel that its use is necessarily worse than driving a car
fueled by gasoline, or driving a car made out of plastic, or using those toxic nightmares
known as batteries whether in flashlights or in electric cars. Earth bag houses use plastic
bags to seal radon-emitting dirt. Oh, and then there's printer's ink as found in recycled
newsprint:

Dangers of printers ink as found in papercrete, according to the us government: http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/17342

"Health Hazard: May cause toxic effects if inhaled or absorbed through skin. Inhalation or
contact with material may irritate or burn skin and eyes. Fire will produce irritating,
corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire
control or dilution water may cause pollution. (DOT, 2000). Printer's ink is generally a
dye-solvent mixture. The solvent is flammable and a polar organic most likely an alcohol
such as, isobutyl, propyl, diacetone, or various other alcohols. Many polar compounds
should be included in this group such as various aldehydes, amyl nitrite, acetone
(ketones), esters, methyl acetate, nitroethane, trimethyl phosphite, chloroheptane, diethyl
sulfide, ethyl borate, ethylene dichloride, butyraldoxime. (NOAA REACTIVITY, 2007)."

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