| Electronics > Beginners |
| Is 'indirect' contact with lead solder safe? |
| (1/6) > >> |
| jotwerde:
Let's say someone solders with lead solder in a room. He doesn't clean up very well and leaves some solder residue lying on the floor. Then, something is placed on the floor, say, a book, which touches the solder left on the floor/comes into contact with it. Then, someone else grabs the book, which has touched the lying around solder, and reads it, coming into contact with the 'solder/lead-contaminated' book. Now, when touching food without washing hands, is the second person at risk of getting lead into his mouth? This is similar to coughing on your hand when sick, touching a door handle with said hand, someone else touching the same handle, eating without washing their hands and getting the bacteria of the sick one into their mouth. |
| Ian.M:
Bacteria and viruses (at least in cells) are alive, they propagate and the population grows exponentially if conditions are favourable. Lead and its compounds are mineral, they don't grow. The question therefore is: How much contamination actually gets transferred to the second person's hands and then ingested, and is it significant in relation to permissible exposure limits? |
| BradC:
If you read my books you'll find notes and annotations made with solder. 60/40 will sub as a pencil when you can't find one. |
| Rerouter:
From point contact with lead, (e.g. many little balls of solder, scattered on a table, there mostly spheres so only a tiny area makes contact), barely any ends up transferring, As someone who works on circuit boards and solders just about every day with leaded solder, I can say the fumes are much more harmful, Wash your hands before you eat and it will likely not contribute a measurable level even after years in. |
| Leiothrix:
Ugh. Even eating the solder is safer than you might think. The fumes from the flux can be harmful; and are sensitizing so they can cause problems over time. Lead is bad for sure, especially as a child. As an adult you pretty much have to be trying before you'll have a problem. Wash you hands after handling it, don't eat it, you'll be fine. |
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