[TowerTalk] Health Studies, electronic workers

David Robbins K1TTT k1ttt at arrl.net
Sat Nov 17 18:53:15 EST 2007


Ask your doctor for a lead test, that is a standard blood test they should
be able to do for you if you have any questions.


David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Pat Barthelow
> Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 22:30
> To: Martin Ewing - AA6E; 'Tower Talk List'
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Health Studies, electronic workers
> 
> 
> Does anyone know of actual Medical  studies done on people in the
> electronics industry who handle lead bearing solder  over a period of
> years?  For some years, back in the olden days,  I worked in  both Q/A and
> production of a sensor  manufacturer.  Proibably hand soldered 300,000 or
> more through hole componnent-pcb connections.  The Old fashioned way.
> Under a lamp, with a Panavise, Weller WTCPN, and a handful of thin guage
> Ersin Multi or Kester 60-40 solder, constanty broken off a nearby 1 lb
> spool. (Spools used to be around $10.... not any more! )   The solder was
> held and fed through my index finger and thumb, mostly, and, at the end of
> the day, you culd see darkened skin on thumb and forefinger, seemingly
> minute lead deposits right where the solder was held.   It even tingled a
> bit, or felt different where the lead solder was fed through the fingers.
> I washed hands at the end of the day, or more often.    Also, back then,
> we did not even use fans to divert the rosin sm
>  oke from our noses while at work.  I wonder if any measureable lead could
> be found in ones bloodstream who did that kind of work.  Also is there any
> lead compounds likely to be wafting up with the rosin smoke?   Any medical
> research actually been done on techs from the oldend days?
> 
> 
> All the Best, 73,
> Pat Barthelow     aa6eg at hotmail.com
> http://www.jamesburgdish.org
> Subscribe: http://bambi.net/jamesburg.html
> Jamesburg Earth Station  Moon Bounce Team
> 
> > Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:48:25 -0500
> > From: aa6e at ewing.homedns.org
> > To: towertalk at contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] DIN Connectors You Can't Solder To
> >
> > "Reduction of Hazardous Substances" (RoHS) is a European initiative
> > which requires manufacturers to use non-lead-bearing solder for
> > commercial electronics devices, among other practices.  You have to
> > follow these rules if you want to sell in EU -- in practice, the world
> > electronics business is following suit.
> >
> > See
> >
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restriction_of_Hazardous_Substances_Directive
> >
> > The rules don't apply to hobbyists, but most of the stuff we will buy
> > will be RoHS compliant.  In practice, this means that soldering is
> > trickier because you have to use higher temperature solders.
> >
> > On the other hand, we might all preserve our mental faculties a little
> > longer! (One of the symptoms of Pb poisoning is reduced IQ.)
> >
> > 73 Martin AA6E
> >
> > David Robbins K1TTT wrote:
> > > First, what is RoHS???
> > >
> > > Most likely they are plated with chrome.  I would take some fine
> sandpaper
> > > and scratch the plating of the top of the pins, that at least gives a
> little
> > > area to tack onto.  If the pins have a hollow on the back like most of
> them
> > > find a drill or jeweler's file that fits in there and scrape out the
> plating
> > > also.  This also works for chrome plated pl-259's since most all of
> these
> > > types of things are just plated brass.
> > >
> > > David Robbins K1TTT
> > > e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
> > > web: http://www.k1ttt.net
> > > AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
> > >
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