The dissolution of soluble lead and copper in water-based inks and printed paper cups was explored to effectively control their potential safety risks. By investigating the physical properties of the prepared ink of deep red and green, the dissolution of copper and lead in the two inks and printed paper cups was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that the physical states of the two inks were relatively stable, and the linear relationship of copper and lead was good in the range of their detection mass concentration. The RSDs were 1.64% and 2.24%, and the recoveries were 94.0% ~ 101.0% and 91.0% ~ 94.8%, respectively. Time and temperature had a great influence on the dissolution of heavy metals. The contents of lead and copper at 100 ℃ for 2 h were 8.3 and 2.36 times those of lead and copper at 25 ℃ for 24 h. The safety of deep red ink was higher than that of deep green ink, and the amounts of lead and copper dissolved in the formulated inks and cups were at risk of exceeding the standard at high temperatures or under prolonged use. Therefore, it was necessary to strictly control the time and temperature of contact between material products and food. The established method is fast, simple, economical and environmentally friendly, which can meet the requirements of daily inspection in enterprises.