Paul,
I have to agree with your comments.... In the end, we would all like to
do the right thing for the environment, but I have a big concern with
the "sky is falling" attitude that we get from the environmental
movement. Would be nice to have some science applied that says
definitively we do or do not have a problem. We have seen a lot of
examples where the wrong problem is attacked with little regard for the
consequences. In this case, yes, lead can be a problem. Is lead-tin
solder in electronics a real problem? Does the small amount of lead used
(I have seen numbers less than 1% of world usage) justify the expense
and risk we are going to take? I have a lot of doubts.
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Baber [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 6:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LF] Lead Usage in Electronics
The reason industries wait until forced to make the changes is
simple...economics. R & D is expensive, especially when being used to
replace a material which is fundamentally functioning as required, and
most
likely cost efficient.
At what point does the cost become too great? Will consumers rush out
to
buy the new lead free price increased products? Or don't you appreciate
the
lower prices on your VCR and home computers? If a gold adhesive
material
were employed, home appliances would be out of reach of most lower
income
families.
The government is quick to jump on a hot topic in hopes of collecting a
few
stray votes. Seldom are any of the agencies quick to assist in the
development of replacement products. When assistance is offered, it is
always a referral to an industry who has the resources for R & D, not a
governmental body.
And is this going to be any more beneficial to the environment than the
Montreal Protocol? Natural events are much more to blame for
atmospheric
pollution than industry, but who do you cite when a volcano blows, or
lightning ignites another forest fire? If I remember correctly,
requiring
storm water permitting for industries was also catching the lower end of
the
pollution problem. Private lawns and farm lands were the greatest
source,
but once again, economics comes into play. Industry can pay, the farmer
can't.
I am unable to quote exact figures, but it is my understanding the
electronics industry is only a tiny part of the user.
Please don't misunderstand my response, I do believe the improvements we
have seen would not have come about without industry being forced into
change. No one likes change, so resistance will always be the first
response.
My wish is the agencies or groups making these requirements are forced
to
play an economically equal role in the development of the replacements.
Not
just set a date and demand it be met.
Now it's more of the king standing on high and saying it is so because I
say
it is so.
Paul B.
NTCB
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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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