The Americans found it appropriate to ban lead from all plumbing fittings.
This is not hearsay, I have noticed that people have been prosecuted for
supplying old stock of brass plumbing fittings that have lead content.
Further info do websearch "lead free"
For models of pollution spread via groundwater much research has been
undertaken by a number of institutions. A good place to start would be the
Institute of Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon. Not searched
for a web address yet, they should have one. Presumably there are reciprocal
orginisations within USA and Europe reporting into the legislative bodies.
When considering "Green" issues it is important to include "Take Back"
policy into any discussion. The governmental policies under review at this
time should dovetail with the ISO 14000 initiatives that are primaraly
addressing the redundant equipment recycling in favour of open site dumping.
The net effect will then be that assemblies should be designed for ease of
recycling, if sub-components can not be recycled then they should not have a
harmfull effect upon the environment (regardless of the percentage of
material).
As has been shown with Mercury and other heavy metals in the past that the
concentration can be in the PPB range but the cumulative effect is just as
catastrophic. If one looks at lighter (less massive) compounds we can again
find quantified models of pollution effects on wildlife, agriculture and
fisheries. Looking at the data (supplied by my large collections of
scientific publications) from the leaching of metals and organic compounds
into the environment there is little difference upon the end result. Studies
of toxin build-up in agriculture should be available at your local
agricultural college where it should (I am reliably informed) be part of an
agricultural management course.
The threat to the environment is very real and measurable as were the
instances of brain damage through the addition of lead into petrol.
Regardless of the driving factor for waste management, this whole exercise
is required in order that we address real issues that will affect not only
our generation but many to come. Fortunately the precursors of the lead free
initiative have had such a dramatic impact upon environment and sociology
that the issue can not be pushed into endless rounds of commitee meetings.
The change is coming, hope you are prepared...
Regards,
Martin.
-----Original Message-----
From: Hamilton, Richard CLE 4454 [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 20 August 1999 22:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LF] The moog of the people
Carl,
You said:
"To suggest that a 'spin doctor' can somehow divert public attention in the
long term is misguided. This may work in the short term but in the end it
just defers the problem (hopefully at least until you're drawing your
pension :)), but it does not provide a solution. Engineers, like yourself,
have the ability if not the power to find solutions."
I am glad you have fond thoughts of 'spin doctors'. On this side of the pond
all they need is money to get on the news, and even if what they say is not
true or have substance to it, well, it becomes the only thing that the
public knows and therefore factual.
I'm sorry if I project a dim view of the 'public at large', but I have seen
it happen too many times, and even when I am in direct relation to what is
being talked about. Our news media does not help any by their lack of desire
to report factually. They just want to be 'sensational' so they get the most
viewers.
What does all this have to do with Lead Free? Not much except to say that
the opinions expressed here are my own and not those of my employer. AND
that I can't help wonder how realistic this lead free issue REALLY is to
everyone's health and how much replacement activity is being placed on the
industries that REALLY use lead, more than 1-2%. If the major lead
industries are already along in their change process, can't we learn
anything from them?
But then look at what the automobile manufacturers have done to protect
petrol when it was suggested that batteries might be a alternative. They
made the batteries look so bad that noone would want such cars!
I'm sorry. It is Friday, everyone have a funtastic weekend!!
Richard Hamilton
Clemar Mfg. / Rain Bird
[log in to unmask]
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IPCWorks -October 25-28 featuring an International Summit on Lead-Free
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Please visit IPC's Center for Lead-Free Electronics Assembly
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For technical support contact Gayatri Sardeshpande [log in to unmask] or
847-790-5365.
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To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask]
with following text in the body:
To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE Leadfree <your full name>
To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF Leadfree
################################################################
IPCWorks -October 25-28 featuring an International Summit on Lead-Free Electronic
Assemblies.
Please visit IPC's Center for Lead-Free Electronics Assembly
(http://www.leadfree.org ) for additional information.
For technical support contact Gayatri Sardeshpande [log in to unmask] or 847-790-5365.
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