I still rely on a daily newspaper for local news, etc., but lately, when I take it out of the delivery bag and open it up, my eyes start itching so much I have to put it down for a while. I know it’s an allergic reaction to the carbon-based ink and that soy-based inks are available to address that. It does seem to dissipate after a while, or I accommodate to it.
Is this a common problem and what can I do to alleviate it, short of telling the publisher about it every day? The local paper is owned by the New York Times, not that that matters. Are soy inks more expensive than carbon-based? They did use them for a while a few years ago.
The only other allergic reactions I have this time of year are certain fragrances. I have some allergy remedies (Loratidine, Flonase, Astelin) for when I’m in my pollen seasons but hate to take them daily just for this problem (and I’m not sure they would control for it).
Unfortunely your link is not currently available, but I can imagine its intent.
Well, I’ve ASS/U/ME D that the allergy was to the carbon-based ink because I read that that was common a while ago. If I were allergic to soy, soys on foods would bother me, too, right? They do not.
Write a polite note to the publisher (not the editor, the circulation guy, the printer- just the publisher). Phrase it similarly to what you did here. If it is a recent thing for you to react this way, that means they probably changed something recently at the plant and you won’t be the only one reacting this way.
Publishser don’t like people reacting allegericly to their papers. My experience in newspapers says something will be done. It may take as much as a month before it is corrected (purging the current mixture and getting an acceptable one in) but I really believe it will be done.
It might not be the ink. It could well be the paper. Some have a higher rag content then others and some have gone through a wash of more chemicals than others. Newspapers are always looking to buy some here or there so that could well be the problem.
In any case, if you mention when you started reacting to the paper in your note to the paper, it might help. If nothing else the publisher or his assigned minion might be able to tell you when they will be running out of that batch of paper (if that is the case).
If you’re having a reaction immediately upon opening the bag then I’d suggest that it’s not the paper or ink per se, but some gas within the bag or some remnant on the bag getting absorbed through the skin. For instance, I can stroke cats all day long, but I have to be careful not to touch my eyes or mouth before I’ve washed my hands or I’ll get a reaction.