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August 1998

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Subject:
From:
"Stephen R. Gregory" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
TechNet E-Mail Forum.
Date:
Wed, 26 Aug 1998 15:20:55 EDT
Content-Type:
text/plain
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Good Day Holly!

I know your email stated to respond to you directly, but I think that this is
a good a forum as any to discuss what I feel is really unwarranted, and as Bev
stated in his email, premature action concerning the use of lead in our
industry.
Don't get me wrong, I know that lead does pose a health risk when it's use is
careless and has been allowed to contaminate the environment.

I think as far as categories of industry users of lead, we seem to be taking
the worlds problems with lead on OUR shoulders, and we're by no means the
biggest users. That honor goes to battery makers...they use 2/3rds of the
worlds lead. In fact, if you look where us electronics manufacturers rank as
far as lead use goes when comparing us with other industry's, we probably
don't rank in the top ten...there's all kinds of business that use more than
we do, and probably not as carefull with not contaminating things as we are.
So why do we take the heat? Why does it seem we are the only ones looking for
alternative materials? I haven't read or heard anything about Ray-O-Vac coming
out with an alternative battery? I hate to say it, but it seems like the
concerns with lead in our industry has been exaggerated to mislead us...for
what purpose I don't know.

If that sounds like I'm being radical, maybe I am a little, because I really
don't understand why our use of lead has been made to be such a big health
concern in our industry...we're microscopic compared to other users.

People point their fingers at electronics being a big contributor of lead
hazards in our society, yet last year 25,000,000 sets of lead contaminated
vinyl mini-blinds were imported from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and
Mexico into the United States that are 100 times more harmful to kids than my
jar of solder paste would ever be...and we continue to keep importing them
too. I  honestly think there's some hidden agenda somewhere that we don't know
about...

My two cents...

-Steve Gregory-

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