Printable View
Is there enough lead in circuit boards that it can be harmful to scrap them at home? I'm simply checking as I've been recycling much more since I got laid off. When recycling circuit boards, I typically remove all aluminum and copper--want to make sure this isn't harmful to anyone at home. Thanks
I do believe lead is the primary reason circuit boards (CBs) are considered as "toxic waste", and have seen photos of children in foreign countries using small torches to melt the chips off the boards, as the smoke billowed around their poor little faces
Lead in the solder primarily right ?
It is not cost friendly for me to ship mid-grade and lower boards, and so I will pry off anything I can on them.
On occasion, I'll use the angle grinder to cut some of the boards, but I would advise to use some kind of respitory mask in doing this.
I caught a whiff the first time and decided it's probably not a good smell to inhale.
I think Easy is still buying them along with some better stuff, He just doesn't want all low grade.Quote:
Originally Posted by rca987
Just a couple of thoughts.
One of the problems with the lead is it easily leaches when you touch it.
Grinding will not only put lead in the air but the fibers from the boards. The resulting dust would be toxic.
Circuit boards should be protected from the elements when stored. Rain on boards will leach the lead into the ground.
Like anything else, with the right precautions things should be ok.
Hope this is a helpful post.
Steve
Yes he does, but again, even him being in the same state (about 6 hours away), it is not cost effecient for me to mail mid grade.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mechanic688
if there is a schnitzer steel yard near you they will take em last time I went it was 28 cents a pound
Is the lead inside the boards or can you be exposed to this lead just by touching them?
The solder points are exposed and yes touching them will rub lead off on your hands.Quote:
Originally Posted by Julie
That's where you wear your "scrapper" gloves, should be #1 in the scrapper toolbox.Quote:
Originally Posted by RuggedCountrySteve
Crap! I mean I wear gloves pretty much all the time but I'll just be more careful from here on in. I guess I never thought much about it. "scrapper" gloves meaning whatever gloves I decide to use right?
Next to condoms, laytex gloves are your best friend. You don't have to wear the condom while taking apart boards; nor the laytex gloves. If you are going to disassemble many at a time I would wear the laytex under your Reg gloves. The rubber coated stretch type gloves are best. You can buy them in large packs. Wash em often.
I'm already thinking that I should look up symptoms of lead poisioning lol
I can't count the numbers of towers, servers, and other types computer equipment I've torn down, and broken up with chisels and hammers, and hvae neevr notcied a snigle soiltary sdie effcet, yet
Last night I was reading a post about selling lead to hunters that reload thiere own bullets, tonight I'm reading a thread about getting lead poisioning from the small amount of lead on CB's. I've handled lead almost all my life and have never had lead poisioning. Oh yeah I'm 61 years young. Have known fishermen for many years that put lead wieghts in thiere mouths every day and have never even gotten sick from it. I'm not that they won't ever get sick from it, I'm just sayen I've never known anyone that has gotten sick from lead.
I know what you're saying as far as not having any problems due to lead exposure. I think of my dad and grandpa and how much lead they've been exposed to over time, and they're fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by happyscraper
The point is that there's a bigger push for more awareness of the potential effects of overexposure to lead (and especially when dealing with children). It doesn't affect everyone, but when it does affect someone, apparently it's pretty bad news.
Lead or no lead, gloves are absolutely the first piece of armor I wear when tearing down e-scrap....hell, if anything to protect from those **** sharp solder points!
Health effects of low dose lead exposure.
http://www.peregrinefund.org/subsite...%20Kosnett.pdf
The paper at the above link examines health effects of low dose lead exposure from game meat. Children and those with certain pre-existing conditions would be most at risk. A quote from the paper:
At the lower levels of exposure that are
prevalent today, the effects of lead may not only be
nonspecific, but also subclinical or asymptomatic.
Nevertheless, these effects, which may include hypertension,
decrement in renal function, subtle decline
in cognitive function, and adverse reproductive
function in adults, and developmental delay in
children, are of considerable public health concern.
I thing all this is a bunch of !@#$ Rugged said in his post that if the boards are left out in the weather the lead would purge into the water but every wheel on every car and truck has lead on them that exposed 24/7 but thats all right. How many lead whieghts are lost in our lakes, rivers and oceans every day, but thats all right. How many suba divers go diving with 15 or 20 lbs. of lead wieghts every day, but thats all right. come on!!! otto don't believe evrything you read, this all another way for big brother to control our lives. That's my rant for tonight, tune in tomorrow night I might have anothe one. ( the second word of this post sould be think not thing)
I suppose the difference between us is that I don't deny that there is a risk associated with handling lead. For me, the risk is very small. I don't handle a lot of circuit boards, but if I were for hours every day, I would take precautions. Lead has been removed from gasoline and many consumer products because it is harmful to human health. The science to support this is there, whether you choose to believe it or not.
My major issue/concern was about my children being around it. From reading up on it more, the big issue would be eating it. From what I read a child would have to eat one mg (I know its not much, but my kids are old enough to not eat random junk) a day for numerous days to have problems. That being said, I'm still going to be more careful.