{"id":172,"date":"2010-06-10T21:02:00","date_gmt":"2010-06-10T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sentryair.com\/blog\/?p=172"},"modified":"2024-05-03T21:14:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T21:14:30","slug":"the-hazards-of-solder-fumes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sentryair.com\/blog\/industry-applications\/electronics-technology\/the-hazards-of-solder-fumes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hazards of Solder Fumes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated May 3, 2024<\/i>
\n\"Hazards<\/a>
\nSoldering is a process in which heat is used to join two metals together by melting a third metal or solder. This process can produce fumes or solder smoke that can be hazardous to the operator. Depending on the application and particular solder, there is a wide variety of health concerns that can be associated with respirable solder fumes.<\/p>\n

Soldering applications include (Deziel 2018)<\/a>:
\n\u2022 Fixing and manufacturing electronics including circuit boards
\n\u2022 Crafting jewelry, metalwork, and stained glass
\n\u2022 Building professions such as roofers, plumbers, gutter repairmen, and electricians
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What are solder fumes (smoke)?<\/h3>\n
\"hazards<\/a>

Benchtop Fume Extractor (SS-100-SS-ST)<\/a> draws fumes away from the operator into the filtration system.<\/p><\/div>\n

Solder fumes are composed of metal vapors from the solder and gas from the evaporated solder flux (Mraz 2015)<\/a>. Soldering melts metal alloys with low melting points to create a bond releasing metal vapors into the air. When using a solder flux, the soldering iron heats the solder flux to aid in the bond formation turning the solder flux into the gaseous state. This combination of exposure to solder vapors and gases can cause the operator lasting health effects depending on the type of solder and the solder flux, as well as the duration and frequency of the application.<\/p>\n

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Soldering Fumes Health Effects<\/h2>\n

Exposure to soldering fumes health effects mainly depends on the type of solder and the solder flux chemical composition. The most popular solders used contain lead, rosin, or are lead-free composed of tin, silver, and copper (Burris 2019)<\/a>. Other specialized solders include alloys of beryllium, aluminum, gold, iron, and brass. Overall, exposure to solder fumes can lead to the development of occupational asthma directly caused from work environment exposure (Mayo Clinic 2018)<\/a>. The operator may become sensitized to toxic and irritating substances leading to the development or worsening of asthma after exposure. Symptoms include chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath. In particular, certain alloys of solders, such as lead-based solder and beryllium based solder, provoke more severe and long-lasting health effects than others, such as tin, silver, and gold. The health hazards for common solder components are detailed below:<\/p>\n

Lead<\/b> \u2013 May cause lead poisoning, kidney disease, hypertension, and weight loss. Targets the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, kidneys, and blood (NIOSH Lead)<\/a>. Symptoms include metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, headache, cramps, nervousness, and insomnia.<\/p>\n

Tin<\/b> \u2013 Considered relatively harmless but may generate benign pneumoconiosis, or eye, skin, and respiratory system irritation (NIOSH Tin)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Silver<\/b> \u2013 May create throat irritation, blue gray eyes, nasal septum irritation, and gastrointestinal disturbance (NIOSH Silver)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Copper<\/b> \u2013 Can produce eye and upper respiratory irritation, and metal fume fever (NIOSH Copper)<\/a>. Metal fume fever symptoms include fever, chills, aches, pains, nausea, and dizziness.<\/p>\n

Beryllium<\/b> \u2013 Classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. Can lead to beryllium sensitization possibly causing chronic beryllium disease with symptoms of shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, night sweats, and fever. Can worsen over time forming granulomas or masses of immune cells on the lungs (OSHA Beryllium)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Aluminum<\/b> \u2013 May provoke irritation to eyes, skin, respiratory system (NIOSH Aluminum)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gold<\/b> \u2013 Regarded as generally harmless but exercise caution with certain alloys (NIOSH Silver)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Iron<\/b> \u2013 May lead to siderosis a form of pneumoconiosis (NIOSH Iron)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brass (Zinc Oxide)<\/b> \u2013 Can cause metal fume fever (NIOSH Zinc Oxide)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition to the exposure to solder fumes, solder fluxes containing fluoride and rosin based solder fluxes fumes can provoke lasting health symptoms. Inhalation of fluoride should be monitored due to the toxic nature of hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride. Both substances can cause eye, skin, nose, and throat irritation. Hydrogen fluoride exposure may cause pneumonitis, while boron trifluoride can lead to bronchitis and pulmonary edema due to the excess of fluid in the lungs (NIOSH Hydrogen Fluoride & Boron Trifluoride)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rosin core solders and rosin based solder fluxes contain rosin which comes from the resins of pine trees. When heated, rosin creates a flux fume called colophony containing a complex mix of particulate and gases (University of Cambridge)<\/a>. The colophony particulates deposit deep within the lungs leading to lung damage and the possible development of occupational asthma (University of Cambridge)<\/a>. The colophony gases include acetone, methyl alcohol, methane, ethane, CO, and CO2<\/sub> and aliphatic aldehydes with exposure causing upper respiratory irritations and possible formation of cancer (NIOSH Rosin Core Solder)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Soldering Safety OSHA<\/h2>\n
\"hazards<\/a>

Soldering Workstation complete with two models of Soldering Fume Extractors<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

To safeguard employee health, OSHA requires employers to monitor air quality and restrict exposure to below mandated standards. OSHA legally enforces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) to help provide safe working environments. OSHA recommends employers to use ventilation or fume extraction systems at the source to restrict exposure to harmful soldering fumes. Although not legally enforced, NIOSH sets a recommended exposure limit (REL) based on all scientific study data available for the substance. The following chart summarizes the OSHA PELs and the NIOSH RELs for soldering and solder flux fumes contaminants (OSHA PEL)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\nGovernment Regulations of Common Soldering Substances (OSHA PEL)<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Substance<\/b><\/td>\nOSHA PEL<\/b><\/td>\nNIOSH REL<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aluminum (respirable)<\/td>\n5 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n5 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beryllium<\/td>\n0.2 \u00b5g\/m3<\/sup>
\n(0.0002 mg\/m3<\/sup>)<\/td>\n		0.2 \u00b5g\/m3<\/sup>
\n(0.0002 mg\/m3<\/sup>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boron trifluoride<\/td>\n1 ppm<\/td>\n1 ppm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Copper (fume)<\/td>\n0.1 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n0.1 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hydrogen fluoride<\/td>\n3 ppm<\/td>\n3 ppm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iron oxide (fume)<\/td>\n10 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n5 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lead<\/td>\n0.05 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n0.05 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rosin core solder
\n(formaldehyde)<\/td>\n		0.1 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n0.1 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Silver<\/td>\n0.01 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n0.01 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zinc oxide<\/td>\n5 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n5 mg\/m3<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Your Rights as an Employee<\/b><\/h4>\n

As an employee, you have the right to a safe breathing work environment. The OSHA Safety and Health Act of 1970<\/u> places responsibility on employers to provide a safe working environment free from harms likely or known to cause lasting health effects (OSHA)<\/a>. This responsibility includes substances without a permissible exposure limit. Employees have the right to proper ventilation in order to maintain optimal respiratory health and safety.<\/p>\n

Soldering PPE Requirements<\/h3>\n
\"hazards<\/a>

Operator soldering with proper PPE including safety glasses, gloves, and Winged Sentry Solder Fume Extractor<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

In addition to proper ventilation, employees must wear proper PPE to protect from other soldering hazards. Protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and gloves, prevents burns from splashes of hot solder. Protective eyewear, such as safety glasses or goggles, protects the eyes while soldering and clipping wires (Oregon State University)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Soldering Safety PPT<\/h2>\n

The powerpoint below showcases the information displayed in this blog. Download for easy reference.
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