Typical UV formulations do not contain solvents and do not contain VOCs. This eliminates the considerable health risks associated with vapor inhalation. Table 1 compares the toxicity of several typical UV curing materials and several solvents. The oligomers used in UV and EB products are much higher in molecular weight so the properties for the categories listed in the table are the same for most oligomers. Toxicity through inhalation and ingestion is not typically a concern with UV curing materials.
Skin contact is.
In the purest form, this statement is true for laboratory testing but in the real world, a slightly different situation exists. Since solvents are volatile, the duration of the skin exposure to the solvents in a typical pressroom situation is minimized. Because the UV materials do not evaporate, skin exposure continues until the materials are washed away. Due to this longer skin exposure, the real world effects are greater for the UV materials. Acrylate materials in UV curing materials can also sensitize a person over a period of exposure.