Hazardous materials while breaking down

I am not losing too much sleep over this but I wondered if anyone had encountered hazardous material while breaking down scrap. Asbestos sheets in toasters are pretty common, I stick them in a garbage bag, but I wondered if anyone knows if some older wire has asbestos insulation?
Once in a while I have gotten some smelly oil coming out of parts, not just gear oil or whatever. I try to dispose of it properly.
I read about some very poor people in Brazil that lived off a city dump. they took apart a machine for metal that turned out to be a dentist's xray machine with stuff that glowed in the dark in it! Some people and kids died.
Don't expect anything like that but just wondered if anyone had any experiences.

yes some older wire has asbestos. I don't think scrap yards are supposed to take them, but i have brought it in before with alot of other wire and didn't have any problems.

my wife and son told me the white grease like material under the heat sinks on boards is bad stuff, any one know?

I thought you got rid of that WIFE ?!!!! lol

It's probably this stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_grease

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my wife and son told me the white grease like material under the heat sinks on boards is bad stuff, any one know?

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I'm no expert but I've been handling heat sink compound for over 20 years with no ill effects I know of. What's wrong with me now is not related to that stuff. I used to do electronic radio repair and some days I'd be in that jar of compound all day long. I wouldn't use it in place of toothpaste but I don't believe it will harm you. Just wipe it off with a rag when your done.

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Originally Posted by olddude

my wife and son told me the white grease like material under the heat sinks on boards is bad stuff, any one know?

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*Looks at hands in consternation*

Nope, they are still all there in one piece! :cool: I didn't think that stuff was bad but I've also never run across asbestos sheets in toasters either. Is this all toasters or just older ones OP?

sorry, didnt notice the question till now, yes, the asbestos I found was in quite old vintage toasters, and I have seen it in old ovens too. Its a thin fibrous panel, off white or gray. BTW some folks may buy vintage toasters in good shape as a sort of vintage kitchen collectible.

There is an older thread about a thong stuck in a dryer!

Mica is the flat silvery/clear/grey solid sheet in most toasters. Its Ok.

Dangerous is the green or red drum in a photocopier, its selenium, can kill & is 'toxic to touch'.
Glass Mercury switches in hospital & industry & heating electrical gear is toxic.
One end of the ceramic end on a magnatron in a microwave oven is toxic if you breathe the dust or get it in you.

Asbestos can be also found in boilers for insulation.

Older insulation on wire my contain PCB's so be careful if you still burn!

Older Electric storage heaters pre 1974 have a high risk of asbestos. 1974 and onwards are all asbestos free. Here are a couple of links withh lists of storage heaters that are known to contain asbestos:

http://www.storageheaters.com/asbestos-list.htm

http://www.aic.org.uk/Storageheaters.htm