Two documents recently released by the U.S. EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) office provide pollution prevention and health and environmental risk-reduction information about blanket washes used in lithographic printing. Cleaner Technologies Substitutes Assessment (CTSA): Lithographic Blanket Washes (EPA 744-R-97-006) compares performance, cost, and risk information for 37 blanket-wash formulations. Solutions for Lithographic Printers: An Evaluation of Substitute Blanket Washes (EPA 744-F-96-003) summarizes information developed through DfE's Lithography Project.

Thirty-seven blanket cleaning washes (36 substitute washes and a baseline wash) were evaluated. Laboratory tests were done at GATF while field tests were conducted at small print shops that hand-clean sheetfed lithographic presses less than 26 inches wide. All the technical information gathered during the project, including the methodologies used to develop the performance, cost, and environmental information, is included in EPA 744-R-97-006.

Both documents may be downloaded free from EPA via PNEAC's web site at http://www.pneac.org/sheets/litho

Author: Gary Jones, PNEAC
GATF Manager, Environmental, Health, and Safety Affairs