Re: Occupational metal exposure

http://www.multicircuits.com/pcb/resource_documents/hasl.pdf


This link does not specify percentages of tin/lead, or that test solder is for any particular use(Plumber's solder is not what I use). Glass solder is fairly pure - it has to be to produce the desired flow. No cadmium or thallium according to this data, but antimony??

I know I have been huffing the stuff for 3 decades. Even when using a fan with a window open I am sure my efforts at moving fumes away from my face were futile. The FLUX required contains Zinc Chloride along with god knows what else(the label does not say), also gets burned with the solder becoming a sticky layer on my eyeballs.

**From a quick search of the hazards of my occupation:

"Lead soldering usually does not represent an inhalation risk since controlling temperature of lead below 900 ºF(melting temperature = 621 ºF) is effective in controlling lead fuming."
From http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/Lead/index.html


It seems they are a house divided - some say no problem, some say I am screwed. Some say cadmium is in the lead - others say the problem is the flux - I dunno !!! I agree that the restoration/removal of antique windows is where the oxidized lead is possibly most dangerous - I have done quite a bit over the years.

There is nothing glamorous about doing Stained Glass - a messy deal at best, but the finished product is fabulous - had no idea it could be lethal? Well, wait - not true that I had no idea - just tried to believe the myth and lore handed down among glass artists - that our medium and purposes were not "THE" lead poisoning problem we all are familiar with from eating paint chips and dealing in major industrial settings. Yeah, it's the fine particles and fine print that'll get ya....


seek2clean