Controlling solder fume

In a previous post I discussed the health risks associated with exposure to the fume generated during soldering with rosin cored solder. It’s a respiratory sensitiser, and is one of the main causes of occupational asthma in Great Britain. The fume is generated due to thermal degradation of the flux – usually containing colophony (also

Lead exposure during soldering

“Soft soldering” is a widely used technique in the electronics industry for joining electronic components to printed circuit boards. Traditionally the solder was an alloy of lead and tin, typically containing about 40% lead.  It is well known that lead is a highly toxic metal, potentially causing a wide range of harmful effects. Children are