Are soldering fumes toxic?

It turns out that solder fumes can be toxic to humans and prolonged exposure to them can cause serious chronic health problems and make other chronic conditions worse.

Can you get cancer from soldering?

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies lead is a Group 2A Carcinogen, which means it is Probably Carcinogenic to Humans. The primary route of exposure to lead from soldering is ingestion of lead due to surface contamination.

Should you wear a mask when soldering?

Wear safety glasses or goggles no matter what kind of soldering you do: a spatter of 370F molten metal or 300 F boiling flux in the eye will ruin your day, week, etc. Use a fume extractor or noxious organic fume mask to keep the vaporized flux out of your lungs.

Can soldering cause breathing problems?

Exposure to solder fumes from resin or colophony-based solder flux can lead to a multitude of health hazards: Occupational asthma – one of the many risks caused by flux gases; coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest pain are among the symptoms of asthma.

What gas is released when soldering?

Many solders contain a rosin-based flux that produces colophony when heated, containing harmful constituents ranging from acetone to carbon monoxide, and is recognized as one of the most common causes of occupational asthma.

How bad is soldering?

When solder wire is heated, fumes are produced that contain various chemicals. Breathing of these fumes can cause asthma or aggravate existing respiratory conditions. The fumes can also cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract, eyes and skin.

Can soldering cause carbon monoxide?

How safe is soldering?

Soldering with lead (or other metals used in soldering) can produce dust and fumes that are hazardous. In addition, using flux containing rosin produces solder fumes that, if inhaled, can result in occupational asthma or worsen existing asthmatic conditions; as well as cause eye and upper respiratory tract irritation.

Can soldering fumes cause asthma?

Rosin based solder flux fume is produced when soldering. This fume is a top cause of occupational asthma. It affects workers in the electronics and assembly industries.

Can soldering cause headaches?

Irritation – as a result of direct or indirect contact with resin-based solder flux, symptoms can range from simple eye or nose irritation to more severe airborne contact skin diseases. Solder fume can also cause other illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, chemical hypersensitivity, chest pain, headaches and dizziness.