Is there any poison in soldering iron or solder

May 13, 2024

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Is there any poison in soldering iron or solder

 

Actually, it depends on whether the soldering wire used in the work is lead free or lead-free, and regular blood lead checks are required. If there is no excess, there will be no problem at all. Is soldering toxic? Normally, if protection and raw material procurement are carried out according to national standards, soldering will not cause significant harm. Nowadays, lead-free products are mostly used.


Lead is a toxic substance, and excessive absorption by the human body can cause lead poisoning. Consuming low doses may have an impact on intelligence, nervous system, and reproductive system. The alloy of tin and lead is a commonly used solder, which has good metal conductivity and low melting point, so it has been used in welding processes for a long time. Its toxicity mainly comes from lead. The lead smoke generated by soldering can easily lead to lead poisoning.


Metal lead may produce lead compounds, all of which are classified as hazardous substances. In the human body, lead can affect the central nervous system and kidneys. The environmental toxicity of lead to some organisms has been widely confirmed. Blood lead concentration reaches 10 μ Sensitive biochemical effects can occur above g/dl, and long-term exposure can cause blood lead concentrations to exceed 60-70% μ G/dl can cause clinical lead poisoning.


Lead is definitely toxic, not to mention its size. Even ordinary metals can be poisoned if they are too large. When soldering, smoke will appear, which contains a harmful element to the body. When working, it is best to wear a mask, but it can still have some impact. Of course, if lead-free solder wire can be used, it will be much safer than lead wire.


Is lead-free solder toxic?
The material used for soldering with an electric soldering iron is soldering wire, which, although mainly composed of tin, also contains other metals. Mainly divided into lead and lead-free (i.e. environmentally friendly). With the introduction of the EU ROHS standard, more and more PCB soldering factories are choosing lead-free and environmentally friendly ones, and lead solder wires are gradually being replaced, not environmentally friendly ones that cannot be exported. Lead free solder paste, lead free tin wire, and lead free tin bars are currently the main products on the market.


Simply put: Harmful. Generally used solder has a low melting point, containing about 60% lead and 40% tin, so the solder itself is toxic. Most of the solder on the market is hollow and contains rosin, so the gas you are referring to is probably emitted when the rosin inside the solder melts during welding. The gas emitted from rosin is also slightly toxic, and this gas is quite unpleasant. The main hazard factor of solder during welding is lead smoke, even lead-free solder contains a certain amount of lead. The limit value of lead smoke in GBZ2-2002 is very low, and it is highly toxic, requiring special protection. Due to the damage caused by the welding process to human health and the environment, in Europe, the protection of welding workers and the environment has been enforced through legislation, and welding is not allowed without proper protective measures. There are clear provisions in the ISO14000 standard for the treatment and protection of pollution generated in the production process.


Tin contains lead, and in the past, soldering wire containing lead classified it as an occupational hazard position (in the national occupational disease catalog); Nowadays, most enterprises use lead-free soldering wire, which is mainly composed of tin. The disease prevention and control center measures tin dioxide; Not listed in the national occupational disease directory. Generally speaking, lead-free technology does not exceed the standard for lead smoke, but there are other hazards associated with soldering, such as flux (rosin like substances), which can pose certain risks depending on the specific situation. Employees can take a look at the identification of the tin issued and its category, so that they can have a clear record and request the company to make improvements (they can provide feedback to the internal union of the factory). If the tin is mixed with lead, it is definitely harmful to the body. Over time, they accumulate in the body and cause significant immune damage to the nervous system.


Leadless solder wire is environmentally friendly, but it is also harmful to human health. The low lead content of lead-free solder wire does not mean it does not contain lead. Compared with lead containing solder wire, lead-free solder wire has less pollution to the environment and human health. The gas produced during soldering is toxic, including gas vapors such as rosin oil and zinc chloride

 

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