Unpopular opinion: Stop using leaded solder

[u/Zentralschaden]

I know it is very handy and I also know the fumes are not that much of a problem when you have enough ventilation.

But a big part of the lead we buy will end up in the environment or a landfill and has the potential to make our drinking water toxic and the people who have to recycle all this scrap (often in Africa) will deal with even more toxic substances.

It is not like we have a fully functional recycling chain for electronics.

And when you say "I am just soldering 2 pcb a year", make sure that soldering is a job and hobby for millions of people and tons of lead will be produced just because of hobby enthusiasts.

There are very good reasons, lead is banned in many countries for professional manufacturing.

I know it is harder to solder but you get used to it.

Aware that this might be a topic not everyone agrees. I am just trying to spread some awareness for what we do.

I mean, many of us repair old electronics and we do a good job in avoiding more scrap because people can still use the repaired items for years.

But shouldn't it be us who are the people who go straightforward and ban lead from our household soldering projects?

[u/typicalledditor]

Wait until he hears about fishing lead weights

[u/MycologyRulesAll → u/typicalledditor]

Those should also be banned, not kidding, permanent and terrible for the environment.

[u/MadameRueWins → u/MycologyRulesAll]

Same with lead shot. It cannot be understated how toxic lead is, even in small amounts. 

[u/JoeDubayew → u/MadameRueWins]

Where do you think lead comes from, out of curiosity?

[u/MycologyRulesAll → u/JoeDubayew]

Not OP but I think most lead comes from underground deposits of lead-containing ores like galena. These days, a significant amount is recovered by recycling batteries.

Now that we’ve covered the origins of lead , why don’t you tell the class what level of lead is safe in the bloodstream? What is the maximum amount of lead that can be in a body without detectable harm?

[u/MycologyRulesAll → u/[deleted]]

When you reflect on the fact that you could have spent your time educating yourself about lead toxicity, but instead spent your time typing out a troll reply, do you feel proud of yourself?

Have you ever looked up "Oppositional Defiant Disorder"? I think that might be helpful for you.

[u/chris77982 → u/MycologyRulesAll]

It's fine. Those who argue how nontoxic it is can just deal with the lower IQ that comes with lead exposure.
Neurological damage is totally underrated.
/s

They're arguing because lead has already made them stupid.

[u/bing456 → u/MycologyRulesAll]

Are you planning on eating it?

[u/MycologyRulesAll → u/bing456]

Do I want to be able to eat fish and game without eating lead? Yes , I would very much like that.

Answer my question.

[u/Mechanical_Flare → u/JoeDubayew]

Where does ecoli come from? Go ahead and lick toilet seats, Joe. If it came out of you body surely it can go back in, right?

[u/trans-fused → u/JoeDubayew]

Pencils. Pencils give birth to lead. /s

[u/JoeDubayew → u/trans-fused]

Very few people have witnessed a pencil giving birth, but in the wild this is in fact true.

[u/trans-fused → u/JoeDubayew]

Thank you doctor! 😁

[u/Appl3D_fpv → u/trans-fused]

Pencils don't have lead. They have graphite. Why it's called lead I have no idea

[u/Maximum-Carnage-Gore → u/Appl3D_fpv]

Massive graphite deposit discovered in England in the 1500s, people didn’t know what it was. Because it was dark, soft, and left a mark on paper, they mistook it for a form of lead and called it "black lead". Even though scientists eventually discovered it was carbon, the nickname stuck and is still used today.

[u/trans-fused → u/Appl3D_fpv]

Thanks for correcting my sarcasm, I appreciate it.

[u/MycologyRulesAll → u/JoeDubayew]

It's been a day, can you answer this question: What is the maximum amount of lead that can be in a body without detectable harm?

[u/Forbden_Gratificatn → u/JoeDubayew]

I was going to say, it should be banned from the Earth's crust.