# My newspaper makes me cry, almost **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 12, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474 "2004-12-12T18:50:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/1 "2004-12-12T18:50:02Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/2 "2004-12-12T19:24:50Z")
Well if they went the other way… How to Live With an Allergy to Soy > [@](#): > > Tips: > Take care with books and newspapers. Many use soy ink, which can induce an allergic reaction in a sensitive individual ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/3 "2004-12-12T19:39:02Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Well if they went the other way… > > How to Live With an Allergy to Soy 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. ---
**Author:** ![JimMacMillan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7bcc69/32.png) [@JimMacMillan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimMacMillan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/4 "2004-12-12T23:43:02Z")
The link was not properly formatted Try this [http://www.ehow.com/how\_3966\_live-with-allergy.html](http://www.ehow.com/how_3966_live-with-allergy.html) Jim ---
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/5 "2004-12-13T02:51:04Z")
> [@JimMacMillan](#): > > The link was not properly formatted > > Try this [http://www.ehow.com/how\_3966\_live-with-allergy.html](http://www.ehow.com/how_3966_live-with-allergy.html) > > Jim and it goes to [microsoft.com](http://microsoft.com), for some unknown reason. very strange. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/6 "2004-12-13T03:08:11Z")
Is the paper avaialble online either for free or by subscription? That is one possible solution. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/7 "2004-12-13T04:12:33Z")
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. TV ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/8 "2004-12-13T04:22:05Z")
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). TV ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/9 "2004-12-13T13:53:22Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Well if they went the other way… > How to Live With an Allergy to Soy **This link is bad**. The link does not work because of a spaceand " " surrounding the http string! Try this one: [\*\* How to Live With an Allergy to Soy \*\*](http://www.ehow.com/how_3966_live-with-allergy.html) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-newspaper-makes-me-cry-almost/279474/10 "2004-12-13T14:39:14Z")
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.