Brian and Gordon
Thanks for the good advice-- glad you point out that recycling is the answer,
not banning lead in solder.
As an economist (not a chemist) I find the human waste by people working on
this irrational project appalling.
And in the unlikely event that the lead-free insanity (my emotion is showing
again) were really implemented, the waste of resources would be even more
appalling. Aren't there enough real challenges ?

The article in Time was an opportunity to discuss  the issue in a  more
public forum.  Many think that lead-free is "inevitable" because people are
so stupid and gullible that they will fall for empty slogans such as "Lead is
bad".  I don't share that view of people in general, and I suspect that you
don't either.  The reporter fell for it because she never heard a full
discussion of the issue.  The trite slogan must be challenged wherever and
wherever it is voiced.

You are right in pointing out that the arguments have to be scrupulously
factual.  But aren't the alternative metals and their compounds in real
landfill environments more soluble than lead and most of its actually
occurring compounds.  Doesn't their potential increased use represent a
greater environmental threat to life via the water supply.  Don't most of the
epidemiological data show great reductions in human plasma lead levels over
past decades?  Has anyone proven that lead in solder is a threat?

A final word about tactics.  I believe that when the CEO's of major systems
companies see the bill ($$$$) and  hear about what some of their people are
up to, in a recessionary environment, they will pull the plug.  Economics
will defeat bad science.

Everyone should read Joe Fjelstad's article, "Lead Free: Right or Wrong",  in
Circuits Assembly, January 2001.  He tells me he even received favorable
feedback from Finland.

Harvey Miller

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