How's the "Great Gas-out" going for ya'll?

Myself, I'm doing real good! Haven't passed any gas all day...(GRIN)

Anyways, a thread got started on another list about this so-called "Lead
Free" stuff,
and got me fired-up! I wanna' put my two cents in about the whole thing.

In my opinion, we're getting a real "snow-job", or "wool pulled over our
eyes", or
whatever you want to call it. But it ain't because of the noble purpose of
saving the
planet from the toxics of lead like this whole thing started out to be...

I know my opinion doesn't mean squat, and probably no matter what any of us
think, it's probably gonna happen. Just as a few others have said; "The train
is
a-coming...so better jump on board!" and it's gonna roll over us no matter
how misguided this whole stupid thing is"

The first question that I or anybody else should have is; "Why?"

Why are the powers that be (or some other influence) making us turn our
industry
completely upside down as far as how we're assembling electronic products?
"Because Steve, Lead is bad! Bad! Bad! Bad!"
Well duhhh,...I think any 12-year old kid knows that, it ain't rocket science
to know
that you're not supposed to ingest it. But why are we being forced, (or
"railroaded",
just to keep with this train theme...hehehe) to change something so basic and
primary
in what we do? Especially when you look at the following figures:

Lead Consumption by End Use

Batteries 71%
Pigment 12%
Rolled Extrusions 7%
Cable Sheathing 3%
Ammunition 6%

Where do you see electronics? It's in that last 1% that you'll find remaining
when
you add all the figures up..and it's a fraction of that one percent.

So I ask again; "Why?"

There's other end-use consumption tables out on the 'Net that'll vary by a
percentage point or two depending on who publishes the chart, but they're all
pretty close with one another...

It sure ain't because it'll save us all from the toxics of lead. That's what
people
would like you to believe, but that ain't it. If we are so worried about Lead,
there's much better targets of opportunity to reduce the lead in the
environment
than to mess with my solder paste and bar solder.

Here's one you'll freak out over...from the pages of http://www.ilmc.org/
(International Lead Management Center)

"The information content of the Expert System would largely be based upon
OECD materials and input from OECD countries. ILMC will help organize
information input, provide financial support, work with UNIDO in the testing
of
the Expert System, and arrange to have individual countries prepare "case
studies" on the phase-out of lead-soldered food cans..."

Geeze Louise, we still solder the cans for our food!! They want to just
"prepare
case studies" for the "phase-out" of Lead soldered food cans! They haven't
done
that yet? Holy SH*T!! And they want to push me to use something else to
assemble my
printed circuit boards? Get REAL!

Go to this page: http://WWW.EPA.Gov/opptintr/Lead/ and tell me what you see
as the biggest Lead hazard that's in all the pages and links at that site?
Paint! Not
solder, or electronics, but Paint! Now this is the EPA saying that
stuff...not Steve
Gregory.

So I ask again; "Why?"

Below is some things I've pasted from WEB pages that kinda' gives some
perspective about the uses of Lead, and some things to think about. While we
all
know that Lead is toxic if we ingest it, all we need to do is not do that!
It's just that
simple! Don't chew on yer printed circuit boards!

I think that the electronic industry is the most responsible users of Lead of
any
industry. We track and monitor our material usage. You walk into almost any
facility and you will see dross recycling drums and hazardous waste containers
that we will dispose of Lead contaminated wastes in, we do the right things.
The
percent of the total usage in our industry surely doesn't justify a complete
change
of our most basic and fundamental process...which is to make the electrical
connections for the components.

If you want to check out everything I've said, go to:
http://www.ilmc.org/resources.html There will be a TON of other pages from all
kinds of Lead research groups that you can scour yourselves and see where we
(the Electronic Industry) stand as far as Lead pollution. We ain't that bad
guys, by
any stretch of imagination. In fact, we should be the example as far as
responsible
users...and that's my point.

Lead is a very good material for what we do, as it is for other uses as well.
We've discovered it sucks using it in paint, and most reasonable people won't
use
Lead based paints anymore.

I challenge any of you to point to ANY Lead pollution problem that we, as a
industry
have caused by our responsible use of Lead solders. If ANYBODY can show me
some
proof, I just might change my attitude...but I ain't gonna hold my breath
waiting. 'Cause I
know better...just something for ya'll to think about.

There! Got that offa my chest...

                                -Steve Gregory-


Some interesting facts about Lead:

Ingesting or inhaling abnormally high levels of lead can be harmful.
Fortunately,
lead exposure has been greatly reduced over the last several decades. The

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call this decline "one of the
greatest
public health successes of the decade."

Working together, industry and government have eliminated potentially high

exposure uses of lead, such as lead solder in food cans and in drinking water

distribution systems. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control,

pockets of high exposure still exist in older urban communities where there
is
deteriorating housing. The industry is working with other groups to identify

affordable solutions to this problem. Current uses of lead pose no
significant
environment or health risks.

There are many misconceptions when it comes to the use of lead. The dramatic
drop in blood lead levels has been labeled one of the greatest public health

success stories and blood lead levels, especially in children, continue to

decrease.

Almost 80% of all the lead now used in the US. is for the production of
lead-acid
storage batteries. Batteries provide both starting power for ignition and
staying
power for the lights, radios and other power accessories. Lead storage
batteries
constitute the most dependable way to store energy for future use. Lead
batteries
are playing a crucial role in the growing use of electric cars.

Because of its high density, capability and availability, lead is an
outstanding
material for radiation shielding. Major progress in the medical field's use
of
radiation for imaging diagnostics such as CAT scans can be directly
attributed to
the use of sophisticated lead shielding to protect patients, healthcare

professionals and the public.

The International Lead Zinc Research Organization has initiated a project
with
the Electric Power Research Institute of Palo Alto, CA. to provide the

cost-effectiveness of a giant lead-acid load leveling battery for use by
Southern
California Edison. The purpose of the demonstration is to show that large

batteries can deliver enough power consistently during the daily load "peaks"
to
eliminate need to build new power plants.

Lead is now cost-effectively used for flat roofs. Compared with other
membrane
materials, it pays for itself in less than 20 years and has a projected life
of more
than 60 years.

Electric vehicles are a viable alternative to fossil-fueled autos and trucks.
Major
improvements in battery technology have resulted in a lead-acid battery that
is
50% more powerful than just 15 years ago.

Earthquakes can cause tremendous devastation and loss of life. Japanese and
US.
engineers are using lead in building foundations to absorb earthquake shock.

Entire buildings can be mounted on platforms supported by giant springs and a

series of strategically placed lead shock absorbers.

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