Russ, Ryan,
I would be extremely surprised if any measurable air borne lead oxide was
produced during hand soldering. Reactions like this are thermodynamically
possible, but from a kinetic point of view are so slow that at room
temperature they essentially are not happening. In a project with Rockwell
and others we only saw significant amounts of lead oxides on parts that had
been stored for 10 years! Yes, more likely at the temperature of melting
solder, but even here the length of time and the surface areas in question
are so small as to not be significant. I would be more worried about the
operators getting actual lead on their hands from handling the cold solder
wire and then depositing that on/in various parts of their body during
bathroom breaks and eating (Hopefully not at the same time! :) ) because
of poor personal hygiene.
Now if you are talking about a wave solder machine it is a slightly
different situation. Here you have a large surface area and you have hot
circulating air that could potentially stir up lead containing dust sitting
on the top of the dross. The potential is higher here but still low. The
real problem with wave solder machines and lead containing dust is during
the actually drossing operation or during a full-fledged preventative
maintenance routine, which Steve Gregory has painfully shown us is
necessary.
Now back to the original question. I can personally attest to the killer
headaches that a good dose of flux fumes can give you. Believe me you don't
want that experience twice! So there's first hand experience for you in
that area. Keep your fume extraction systems and for heavens sake keep them
in working order. In Canada they are mandatory and if you don't, the labour
inspectors can pass out hefty fines to the solderer and/or the company,
depending who is at fault. I would presume it is the same in the States?
Industrial hygiene testing can be carried out to determine the doses (if
any) your operators are receiving. We have NEVER found any lead on the
filters of workers doing hand soldering. We also have tested/do test for
flux fumes. If you want more information on this, contact me off TechNet,
as I am getting close to the hairy edge.
regards,
Bev Christian, PhD
Manager, Materials Engineering & Environmental Lab
Carrier Solutions
Nortel Networks
613-967-5407
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Russ [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 1999 3:26 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [TN] Solder Fumes
>
> Lead oxides form at room temperatures. Much faster when heated. Makes
> dust which can become airborne quite easily. Any significant handling
> of lead should be vented and properly filtered. Just runnin it into a
> box and dumpin it back into the room can be very risky if you don't
> maintain those hepa filters, carbon absorbers, etc. You should be able
> to find a whole lot of really scary stuff about lead on the internet.
> Just search on "lead poisoning". That otta get em off your back.
>
> Regards, Russ Winslow
>
> Six Sigma
> 1940 Concourse Drive
> San Jose, CA 95131
>
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.sixsigmaservices.com
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Ryan Chase
> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 1999 6:55 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [TN] Solder Fumes
>
>
> This question may have been asked before but I searched through
> the archives and I couldn't find anything.
>
> Does anyone know of any studies that have been done on the
> effects of solder fumes on humans? long or short term.
>
> I am attempting to "quantify" the purchase of fume extraction
> equipment.
>
> What I am asking is:
>
> What is harmful about solder fumes?
> As far as I knew, as long as the temperatures stayed below
> 1000 degrees that lead will not become airborne.
>
> Is there a government requirement (OHSA or WHMIS) that limits the
> exposure to these fumes?
>
> I have already purchased and installed the extraction equipment,
> now I guess I am trying to justify why I purchased the equipment.
>
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Regards,
> Ryan Chase
> -----------------------
> Ryan Chase
> Manufacturing Engineer
> GE Harris
> 403-214-4502
> Fax 403-287-3107
> [log in to unmask]
>
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