Number
258-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Printing and reproduction of recorded media
Other
Function
Other
Process
Manual activities involving hand contact
Other
Product category
other
Application
Shellac as alternative to bitumen
Abstract
Bitumen is used by some artists or technicians to prepare etching plates. Because it contains hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and is dissolved in hazardous solvents, safer alternatives are to be preferred. Shellac can be used as an alternative that performs well in this application.
Substituted substances
Bitumen
CAS No. 8052-42-4 EC No. 232-490-9 Index No.
Chemical group
Hydrocarbons
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 2B carcinogen (IARC) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Alternative Substances
Shellac
CAS No. 9000-59-3 EC No. 232-549-9 Index No.
Chemical group
Resins
Ethanol
CAS No. 64-17-5 EC No. 200-578-6 Index No. 603-002-00-5
Chemical group
Alcohol
Classification: hazard statements
H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 1 carcinogen (IARC), as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Reliability of information
Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed
Reason substitution
CMR
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Bitumen is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), according to the IARC Monographs. It fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Alternative substances: Shellac is not classified as hazardous and after being used in various applications for a long time is considered generally safe. Because shellac is also used in food industry, the European Food Safety Authority has included it in the programme for scientific data collection regarding food additives, so more detailed hazard evaluation will be available soon. Ethanol is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database.
Description of Substitution
Artists that use bitumen (asphalt) to prepare plates or as a stop-out for ground etching, are exposed to hazardous chemicals and fumes. An alternative to bitumen is shellac, a natural product considered safer and performs well for soft and hard ground etching. Dried shellac is grinded and dissolved in ethanol prior to application. Compared to bitumen it is easier to prepare, it dries fast and it gives good quality results. The author of the document considers shellac a safer alternative but warns about the hazard of arsenic-containing shellac.
Case/substitution evaluation
The substitution is easy to implement and the alternative is available in different commercial products. Substituting shellac for bitumen eliminates exposure to hazardous compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in bitumen (crude or refined). PAHs are considered carcinogenic and IARC has classified refined bitumen (CAS 8052-42-4) as carcinogenic 2B. The substitution also eliminates exposure to the hazardous chemicals that may be used to dissolve bitumen, like naphtha solvents (EU carcinogen and mutagen category 1) or carbon disulphide (neurotoxicant and EU endocrine disruptor category 2). Some shellac products may contain arsenic if oropiment (arsenic trisulfide, CAS 1303-33-9) was added during the preparation. There are arsenic free shellac brands available on the market.
State of implementation
In use
Availability ofAlternative
The alternative is available on the market.
Type of information supplier
User
Further information
Shellac wax-free MSDS from Sigma
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021