this post was submitted on 04 Nov 2024

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What percentage of lead gets washed off the fingers of a typical human after handling lead solder? (self.nostupidquestions)

submitted 3 weeks ago by j4k3 to c/nostupidquestions

24 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Does anyone know for reals? Is it like leaded gasoline; the more you use it, the less it seems to matter? /s

all 27 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] ooterness 23 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Here's the relevant safety guides from Stanford and MIT.

In short, if you do a lot of soldering, there are long-term occupational hazards from both lead oxides and rosin. Both guides agree that the main hazards are the fumes (workstation should have a fume extractor or suitable filter) and residue on your hands (wash hands with soap and water before eating).

I couldn't find any numbers on how much material is removed by washing, but every reference emphasized that soap and water are vitally important.

[–] AndrewZabar 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Nearly every activity should be preceded by and followed by a good handwashing. Keeps you well.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

note this is good normally but terrible advice if you have ocd. idk what everyone else’s experience is like but i got so obsessive over handwashing that my skin started to slough off of my hands from how frequently i began to do it. turns out that what constitutes an activity versus a moment is really hard to tell when you’re mentally ill af. no good.

[–] AndrewZabar 6 points 3 weeks ago

Well yes, for someone with OCD there are a plethora of behaviors that aren’t the same for them as for ordinary people. I think that would go without saying.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

Lots of conjecture and misunderstanding in the other comments. Thanks for posting actual sources.

[–] spankmonkey 17 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

I'm not about the percentage, but due to lead's toxicity it is probably more important to avoid touching or breathing in funes from lead soldier as much as possible. Beyond that wearing proper gloves and masks to avoid inhaling fumes will be safer than touching it and trying to wash it off.

Whatever other steps you take, stop licking the soldering iron.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Only lick the soldering iron when it's turned on. That way, the ouchies from the heat cancel out the ouchies from the lead poisoning. Trust me, I'm an expert at licking things other people say shouldn't be licked

[–] spankmonkey 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Only lick the soldering iron when it’s turned on.

Hey siri, how do I arouse a soldering iron?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Shove some electricity up the arse, works on mine.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

I've heard that one set of nerves registers the ouchies from heat, and a separate set of nerves registers the ouchies from the lead poisoning... So you actually get hellfire ouchies instead of them cancelling out.

[–] Hagdos 8 points 3 weeks ago

The fumes are from the flux, if you're evaporating lead your iron is a few thousand degrees too high.

Still shouldn't breathe that, but that's also true for lead-free solder

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

But it tastes so sweet!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Metallic lead is reasonably safe to touch. Its lead fumes and micro particles getting in ur bloodstream through ur lungs or ingesting it that is the worry.

[+] 11111one11111 -13 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

[removed by mod]

[–] XeroxCool 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

So, if you'd like a little education on why the comment you replied isn't nearly as dramatic as you've made it out to be, pull up a chair. Both lead and mercury are pretty damn safe to handle as metals in your hand. Getting inside your body is where it becomes a problem, where it's able to form different, body-soluble compounds and become toxic. Your skin is constantly pushing itself out, so lead residue on your hands isn't going to have a route inside unless you have cuts or lick your fingers. And even then, the lifetime accumulation is really insignificant with this method for non-occupational handling.

Vapors are the immediate cause of concern for OP. Ingestion (eating lead paint, eating food that has ingested/leeched in lead) is where it becomes dangerous faster. If OP is diligently washing their hands but huffing all the fumes, the cleaning is entirely in vain. So yes, that's why it's important to make the above distinction in regards to Scenario A being nothing compared to B, C, or D: treating for A is worthless if the other 3 aren't considered.

[–] ikidd 8 points 3 weeks ago

Its negligible and its elemental lead which isn't very reactive at all.

[–] Anticorp 3 points 3 weeks ago

You need to be way more concerned with the fumes than the little bit that may be left on your hands after washing. The amount on your hands after a thorough washing is negligible.

[–] AndrewZabar 1 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Is there any reason people still use lead solder? I mean… I use silver for jewelry soldering and I know silver and copper can both easily work well for electronics , so in what application is lead necessary?

[–] ikidd 6 points 3 weeks ago

Because its lovely to work with compared to ROHS solder, and if you're just a hobbyist, its not an appreciable risk.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

It's not necessary in most cases, but it has advantages. Namely, it's easier to work with and melts at lower temperatures (less risk of damaging components and burning yourself). Also, while lead has its risks, they're easy enough to mitigate.

[–] ooterness 5 points 3 weeks ago

Lead-based solder is preferred for high-reliability electronics (space, nuclear, military, etc.) because it's easier to rework, easier to verify by visual inspection, and it's not vulnerable to tin whiskers.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Military

[–] AndrewZabar 1 points 3 weeks ago

Ah.

[–] WoahWoah 0 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Avoid and mitigate fumes. Buy a jug of D-Lead hand soap and laundry detergent and use it. Get regular blood tests for lead levels.

If you have or are regularly around small children, you need to be extremely diligent about the above. That goes for all you idiots obsessed with guns as well. Primers use lead styphnate and create lead vapor everytime you fire. Worse with rifles because your face/body is closer to the expelled gases. Aside from breathing it in, you're also getting a nice patina of lead residue on your arms, shirt, face, hair, etc. You're also likely tracking in lead residue from your shoes into your home. If you like to hug your kids or your kids play on the floor, guess what.

Do NOT fuck with lead. There's no safe level of exposure, and it can be devastating to the developing brains of children.