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This paper, through certain printing techniques, examines the types of occupational pollutants and the adverse impacts of the printing process. Also, it proposes the measures for better preservation and environmental protection. The paper analyzes the results of the quantitative identification of hazardous materials from various printing techniques: pad, screen, offset, flexographic, and digital. The study included the analysis of waste printing inks and purification of printing wastewater with adsorption methods. Besides that, the preliminary monitoring of ambient indoor air quality was performed. The multiple regression analysis was applied on the obtained experimental results, in order to determine the mutual correlation between the ozone and the total volatile organic compounds and microclimate parameters. It was observed that a quantitative correlation exists between the investigated occupational hazards, which also indicate the strength of the agreement. The obtained results could be useful to evaluate the tendency of hazardous air pollutants in printing industries worldwide.

The extent of noise in five printing companies in Novi Sad, Serbia, was determined using TES-1358A Sound Analyzer with RS-232 Interface. The data on equivalent A-level (dBA), as well as, maximum and minimum sound pressure levels were collected. It was found that folders and offset printing units are the predominant noise sources, with the average L (eq) levels of 87.66 and 82.7 dBA, respectively. Forty percent of the machines produced noise levels above the limiting threshold level of 85 dBA, allowed by law. The noise in all printing companies was dominated by higher frequency noise, and the maximum level mostly appeared at 4,000 Hz. For offset printing machines and folders, the means of L (eq) levels exceeded the permissible levels given by NR-80 curve at higher frequencies. There are no published studies of occupational noise and hearing impairment of workers exposed to hazardous noise in printing industry in Serbia. More extensive studies are needed to determine the exact impact of noise on the workers. Technical and organizational measures in order to control noise and prevent noise exposure, and general hearing conservation program to protect workers, should be introduced in printing industry.

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The concentrations of isopropyl alcohol were monitored during the working time (8 hours) in three different printing plants (two sheet-fed offset and one digital) in Novi Sad, Serbia, using portable gas chromatograph. The concentration levels were below the recommended limits by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Unequal presence of isopropyl alcohol in printing plants involved a multiple linear regression analysis of microclimate parameters using program ORIGIN 5.0. The results of multiple linear regression confirmed that the microclimate conditions in the digital printing plant generate the lowest values of isopropyl alcohol concentrations due to the installed ventilation fans in comparison with other two sheet-fed offset printing plants. Multiple regression models can be evaluated to predict the values for total isopropyl alcohol concentrations due to the humidity, temperature and light intensity.