Hindsight has an arrogance that’s rather fascinating…
Phasing out lead in paint & fuel was probably one of the best moves ever. Lead ingestion makes you stupid, and it affects kids a lot more than adults. Just what the world needs – more morons.
It only been 50-odd years that just how toxic lead is was shown, and it’s removal from products started. It really is a recent event – how soon we forget & trivialise it.
And who opposed the phase-out? The oil companies…
An unexpected result was a drop in crime (some claiming 50% in certain areas), as well as a few less dead kids:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40226. “Ridding the world of leaded petrol, with the United Nations leading the effort in developing countries, has resulted in $2.4 trillion in annual benefits, 1.2 million fewer premature deaths, higher overall intelligence and 58 million fewer crimes…”
That’s a big teapot you’ve got there…
We should put up a few statues of this bloke:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clair_Cameron_Patterson. Tony
I Agree,
all the screaming about the dangers of lead based solder is just a
" tempest in a tea pot,"
The uproar started with the suspicion that lead based paint chips had caused mental retardation in some poor children..
There are many studies however, that show that there are few if any hazards associated with the use of lead based solder.
Simply handling solder is certainly not hazardous as long as the user remembers to wash his hands after using it and before eating.,
I do however question the health aspects of inhaling the rosin fumes. I use a small fan to suck the fumes away from my face and a HEPA filter to trap any particulate.
Works great even when using a torch to solder parts together or using a solder pot and dipping wire leads.
.
I have also noticed that the "non-lead" variety of solder has a tendency to crystallize after just a year or two and develop high resistance and "noisy" joints!
Maybe that is why so much of the equipment made in Europe, Japan or China tends to fail after a few years of operation..
Dan
"Everything that glitters is not necessarily good." Anon.
On Fri, Jul 18, 2014 at 9:12 AM, 'Tony Smith' ajsmith1968@... [Homebrew_PCBs] <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 4.2.3 Dermal absorption
> Dermal absorption of inorganic lead compounds is negligible (ATSDR 2007,
US
> EPA 2006). Few studies have provided quantitative estimates of dermal
> absorption of inorganic lead in either humans or animals. Those that have
been
> conducted consistently show the absorption to be negligible for both
soluble
> and insoluble lead compounds.
And tells you to wash your hands afterwards.
It's not saying anything new, we all know chewing on the solder is a bad
idea.
Tony
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