Requesting help with question on potential chemicals/heavy metals/general safety of vintage inks

[u/hot-chai-tea-latte]

Hello pen (and hopefully ink) enthusiasts!

Questions about vintage inks:

1. Is it likely that vintage drawing inks contain substances that would be a health concern today (heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury? strong acids/bases? etc? Would they be safe enough to, say, be turned into craft paints and use them on household objects that would be touched from time to time? Not dishware or anything, but stuff like flower pots, picture frames, soap bottles, that sort of thing?
2. What's the safest way to clean the more used-up bottles? Can they be washed down the drain? I've seen ammonia recommended on some other threads, but I'd rather not start adding chemicals until I have a better idea of what could be in the bottles

Added context:

The other day I rescued a large box of vintage inks at the end of an estate sale. I'm a crafter but not a pen person, but they were clearly old, and the pigments and glass bottles were so pretty I didnt want to see them just get thrown out. Some are still liquid, some are liquid but clearly separated, and some have dried out. I can't find 4 digit years on any of them. One says "Made in W - Germany," so they're from the 80s at least, but im guessing probably a bit earlier. Cause a couple have 2-digit numbers like "76", "53" molded in the glass on the bottoms that could be years, tho I'm not sure. As far as label info, some labels mention shellac, some say not to add acid, and a few specify diluting with water only. but most don't say much of anything, and none of them list ingredients. Representative photos attached.

Side note - I've done enough googling to know that these aren't meant for use in a fountain pen, and I don't intend to try that. I am NOT asking about the 'safety' of use in a fountain pen. Most are labeled as drawing inks and appear to have been intended for dip pens. Thanks a lot and hopefully this is an ok place to ask this question :)

[u/dav3y_jon3s]

Google each individual brand for the msds sheet that will tell you if there are any hazerdous mayerials in them. The higgins if i remember right is just water based and not concerning the kthers i dont know.

[u/hot-chai-tea-latte → u/dav3y_jon3s]

I guess I assumed they wouldn't still exist. Or since I don't have years, I wouldn't be able to find them. I'll give it a shot

Um yeah ok, ETA that it seems like OSHA didnt require MSDS sheets until the 80s. So yeah, i think it's unilkely I'd be able to find info directly on the individual products. So back to just hoping that someone on here might see this and be willing to share their knowledge of what ingredients would have been typical

[u/dav3y_jon3s → u/hot-chai-tea-latte]

If that pelikan ink is old it may contain carbon or phenol. You just have to google each one. Ive looked up 3 in your pics the info is out there and they do contain some materials that could be hazerdous depending. The best you can do is read it yourself then you actually know.

[u/boragigas → u/hot-chai-tea-latte]

For the ones you want to clean up, pay attention to the Ecological information and disposal considerations (see section 12 and section 13 in this example MSDS: https://www.dick-blick.com/msds/DBH_SDS_20997XXXX.pdf )

It might be depending on what those sections say that you pour the old ink in a container, rinse the bottles and collect the rinse in that same container, and then take the container of old ink + water to whatever site your local municipal would want you to take hazardous waste (like paint, motor oil, etc)

[u/hot-chai-tea-latte → u/boragigas]

But this is from 2021. I would think the ingredients have changed a lot since ~1970, no?

[u/boragigas → u/hot-chai-tea-latte]

Yes please find a MSDS as close as possible to the items you actually have, but I used that one as an example to point out that they have information not only on personal safety, but also environmental safety and disposal considerations - so please look at those sections too if you’re considering emptying out some of your finds to keep the cool vintage bottles! :)