Good topic - I think we might get a reprimand from Jack, though for off-topic posts! :) I, too, am fascinated by this topic. I find it hard to believe that lead-free is so important to certain countries when there are so many other toxic materials floating in our atmosphere. I mean if my grandma throws her walkman away, does that really mean as much when millions of trucking companies, railroad companies, refineries, etc, etc are polluting so much more. I reflect back to when I was living in Houston and they implemented emissions testing. There are only three counties in Texas that incorporate these tests (although they are the heaviest populated)--Harris (Houston), Bexar (San Antonio) and Tarrant (Dallas). However, trucking cos. are fairly unregulated. As far as locomotives and refineries, there is so much that is not done. Even recently, a few years ago the speed limit was raised to 70 on most Texas highways. In Houston, a city ordinance was passed to lower the limit back to 55. The theory was that the extra 15 mph was causing too much pollution. I know for a fact that most modern cars actually run more efficient at higher speeds and produce less emissions. This has been discussed in the Houston city legislature and the limit has now been increased back to 70 (However, now the dummies who can't drive right will cause death from accidents, but not emissions). As far as smoking goes, the taxes from sales of tobacco are so lucrative to the economy that our children will always have the cancer available to them. No matter how much data proves their dangers. Jason Gregory Production Supervisor LaBarge Inc. (918)459-2367 [log in to unmask] Joe Fjelstad <[log in to unmask]> on 11/15/2002 03:00:34 PM Please respond to "TechNet E-Mail Forum." <[log in to unmask]>; Please respond to [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] cc: (bcc: Jason Gregory/LABARGE) Subject: Re: [TN] Indirect Lead Free Toxicity vs. Direct Carcinogens Hi Carrie, This is a fascinating question to ask. It is hard not to be cynical when one reads that the same government that is seeking to ban lead in electronic solders in Japan actually owns two-thirds of Japan Tobacco and has in the past actively promoted smoking as good for your health. Consider the following: "The government and tobacco seem to go hand-in-hand. Until last year, the gift bags distributed annually to workers in the Imperial Palace in honor of the emperor's birthday contained cigarettes, and Japan Tobacco donated 15 million cigarettes to nursing homes in honor of Respect for the Aged Day. Then there is the wording on the warning labels on cigarette packages here: "Since smoking might injure your health, let's be careful not to smoke too much." Source: Can Koizumi Untangle Japan and Tobacco? By STEPHANIE STROM The New York Times June 13, 2001 Europe is an interesting case as well as it is often hard to find a place to get away from smoke. You are right to wonder about the missing logic. Kind regards, Joe --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 -----------------------------------------------------