What happens to smoke from soldering? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 12:18:45 pm
content: So I am soldering away and there is smoke being produced from the flux. What happens to this smoke? Does it stay smoky or does it condense back into tiny specks of flux? Is it bad for your health to be exposed to this smoke?

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 12:30:19 pm
content: It is sucked into the component, where do you think the magic smoke comes from when things die?Being serious it will cool and condense and become part of the atmospheric particulate matter around you. Some will almost certainly settle out. Yes it is probably deleterious to your health to be exposed to a lot of soldering fumes but unless you have pre-existing respiratory disease you probably won't notice it as a hobbyist.

author: timofonic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 12:46:12 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on August 13, 2015, 12:30:19 pmBut how's bad for your health? Are there some scientifically medical reason?Does it accumulate in lungs? Does some of its chemical components pass to bloodstream and cause some kind of toxicity that can be too much if massive fingers are inhalated?Is it common to get dizziness if inhalating a moderate amount of flux fumes? It happened to me once day.What about lead too?Are there some article or essay about soldering and health with some kind of good explainings?

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 12:51:08 pm
content: Try this:http://www.elexp.com/Images/Health_Hazards.PDF

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 01:13:44 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on August 13, 2015, 12:51:08 pmOr, indeed, just google it.

author: timofonic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 01:24:41 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on August 13, 2015, 01:13:44 pmI can do that, but the idea was some more experienced person that already knows about it would provide a reference to some reliable and good done article about that.There's lots of shitty stuff, sometimes it takes too much time and certain knowledge to filter good stuff from massive crap.Thanks a lot!

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 01:40:14 pm
content: QuoteTo be fair the forum is probably more interested in and experienced with the things at the business end of the soldering iron rather than the occupational health aspects of the process.QuoteQuite true, of course you need the skill to separate the two whenever you venture into google.As a hobbyist I don't worry too much about it. Obviously I try not to actually breath the fumes. If you are doing a lot of work some sort of extraction system is likely to help and you will probably find some hints looking through old posts on here or using google.

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 01:49:33 pm
content: As silly as it seems I ended up installing an old cooker hood over my old workbench years ago, gave me light and extraction with a pipe to the window.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 01:57:11 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on August 13, 2015, 01:49:56 pmI wonder whether that's some difference in the flux.Lead vapour during soldering is minimal and not generally considered a hazard.There's a handy table for leadhere.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 02:27:47 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on August 13, 2015, 01:49:56 pmPeople also say it about EMF.

author: TheElectricChicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 02:35:14 pm
content: Quote from: Circlotron on August 13, 2015, 12:18:45 pmIt never return to flux. You should use a computer fan and an old vacuum cleaner hose to send it outside from your desk.Of course it is safe, same as DDT is safe and Roundup is safehttp://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/france-bans-sale-of-weedkiller-roundup-over-un-fears-it-may-be-carcinogenic/story-e6frflp0-1227399297482http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/21/roundup-cancer-who-glyphosate-It's ALL Safe. You can always believe the company. Always. Yes sir !!!

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 03:20:29 pm
content: rosin flux is made from trees, and has similar chemicals to wood smoke. wood cooking fires are associated with dramatically higher rates of lung diseases like emphysema, but still most people aren't afraid of them.Neurological effects like dizzyness are not common from this type of pollutant, but if you had an allergic reaction or simply didn't get enough oxygen it is possible. Much more concerning are some flux cleaners like trans-dichloroethylene or n-propyl bromide, which can cause nerve damage.You might have gotten dizzy simply by sitting bent over for a long time and standing up quickly.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 03:37:56 pm
content: This is the HSE (Health and Safety Executive UK) publication on the exposure to soldering fumes.http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg248.pdfYou could try the American Welding Society or the Welding Institute as they have published studies into the health effects of soldering and weld fumes.

author: janengelbrecht
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 03:41:20 pm
content: Smoke from soldering are meant to go into your brain...sadly though now without lead....

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 03:43:41 pm
content: Welding fumes are much worse than soft soldering because the higher temperatures liberate substantial amounts of metal.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_fume_fever

author: ErikTheNorwegian
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 03:53:51 pm
content: just a reminder, we coverd these theme before. :-)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/im-losing-two-good-friends-to-alzheimer-both-engineers/15/

author: TheElectricChicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 05:17:45 pm
content: Something I really want everyone to remember because it is simple and might save them.Many times you won't want to use a fan to clear the fumes, because you think the fan is too powerful and would cool the work, or even clear items from the desk. That happens when you point the fan at your workspace.place the fan to face AWAY from your workspace, it will work 100% to clear fumes, but it doesn't interfere with your work.Then it's easy to work safer and healthy when you wouldn't think you could, because the fan you have is too annoying to use. REMEMBER, remember silly pics, or whatever, but remember next time.picture courtesyhttp://www.gutenberg.org/files/38036/38036-h/38036-h.htm

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 05:50:36 pm
content: I use a Weller fume extractor with regularly changed carbon filters. At least in my head, it makes me feel better and I am not breathing the fumes. Grumpydoc, I taught a soldering 101 class for my ham club not that long ago, and I actually did some research on this as I try to be as thorough as possible when teaching a subject. I made sure that everyone understood that you aren't breathing lead fumes because lead may melt at 328C but it vaporizes 1750C and it is the flux fumes that are bad for the given reasons here.. Mojo, are you sure it's the lead and not the flux ingredients, just for the previous statements? I don't solder a huge amount, but still use extraction because it is far better to be safe than sorry. Fortunately, leaded solder fumes and EMF don't bother me, at least as far as I know.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 06:21:35 pm
content: I got recently the Hakko fan/filter. Very well made but noisy as hell. I ended up using a 4" (?) 12vdc fan that I run at 10v. It's quiet and I don't smell the fumes anymore. Yes, it is turned away from the board.

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 06:51:35 pm
content: I built a box with a computer fan and cheap carbon solder fume filters from ebay. Not sure how effective it is but it got to be better sitting bent over the board inhaling the fumes...You can get units like these:http://www.ebay.com/itm/220V-FA400-Portable-Solder-Smoke-Absorber-Air-Filter-Fume-Extractor-/231265710791?hash=item35d882b2c7...and new filters from ebay. They are not very expensive so probably makes more sense to buy one, but I haven't tested one so can't vouch for it.Funnelling the fumes out a window is probably the best option but that's not possible for me.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 07:46:36 pm
content: Quote from: apis on August 13, 2015, 06:51:35 pmJust realize that for this price, this is a fake.

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2015, 08:25:27 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on August 13, 2015, 07:46:36 pmYou may be right, but as long as it suck fumes through the filter it should be better than nothing!

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 12:55:43 am
content: Quote from: apis on August 13, 2015, 08:25:27 pmif it does

author: TheElectricChicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 05:39:40 am
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on August 13, 2015, 07:46:36 pm

author: TheElectricChicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 05:43:07 am
content: Quote from: apis on August 13, 2015, 08:25:27 pmMaking your own filter would work and would help. Using a cheap one would help and would work too. First, any fan mixes and dilutes the pollutants so that you get less of them. Plus, any filter is going to get dirty after a while, no matter what it cost. That is less dirt for you.I figure you could add a computer fan to a box holding activated charcoal and that would be as good as any other filter, plus it would cost almost nothing.I know how to make charcoal, but I need to work out how to make 'activated' charcoal.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 11:07:36 am
content: This is my setup. I have a 100mm fan maybe 1 foot away from where I am soldering to draw away the smoke, then in the open sliding window a pair of 150mm mains powered fans. The black box between the fans contains several microfarads worth of capacitance to slow the fans down to about 2/3 speed. Over the last 10 years I have sat here and soldered conservatively about 1,500,000 joints. No kidding. About 5000 boards with close to 400 joints each.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 11:09:39 am
content: Breathing smoke is never good for you. Doesn't matter if it is cigarettes, cannabis, or rosin. However I do like the smell of solder rosin.

author: TheElectricChicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 11:52:51 am
content: Quote from: Circlotron on August 14, 2015, 11:07:36 amNow that is a good cheap way to avoid cancer. But how to avoid dry joints ?

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 12:06:27 pm
content: Quote from: Stonent on August 14, 2015, 11:09:39 amYou leave my pleasures in life alone you killjoy

author: schopi68
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 01:20:24 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on August 13, 2015, 01:40:14 pmJust to give an idea, here is my experience:Around 1978 at the age of 10 i started with the electronics hobby. In the next years i did a lot of hand-soldering in the hobby-room without spending any thougths into possible health hazards (nobody did this in the 70's). 1986 i went into a professional education as an electronics engineer. During this time we had the best possible airflow in the rooms, but no explicit smoke extraction during soldering. And we did do less soldering than i did as a hobbyist. So most of the colophony (rosin) influence i had in my life was as a hobbyist.After three years of education 1989 i changed my business and went into the Information technology business, so i didn't even see a soldering iron for many years. During some medical tests in 1999 they still found a allergic hypersensitivity against colophony. I'm, glad that this is only a weak hypersensitivity, so i am still able to use rosin flux today without getting heavy problems.

author: TheElectricChicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 01:31:31 pm
content: Quote from: Deathwish on August 14, 2015, 12:06:27 pmStill, I wouldn't mind some of the solder I used as a kid, it was better back then, not just because of the smell, but no solder, even the lead ones, seem to make shiny joints as easily as they did when I was a youngster.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 01:34:17 pm
content: Quote from: TheElectricChicken on August 14, 2015, 11:52:51 amLots of flux and synovial fluid keeps those joints wet!There is no such thing as too much flux.

author: TheElectricChicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 01:44:32 pm
content: yuk you're terriblei guess joints are not as good as they used to be, any which way you mean.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 01:49:39 pm
content: Quote from: schopi68 on August 14, 2015, 01:20:24 pmOne thing I found interesting about the health & safety document that was linked is that it claims rosin soldering flux is now the leading cause of industrial asthma. which would fit with your experience

author: TheElectricChicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 02:15:50 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on August 14, 2015, 01:49:39 pmToner from printers and copiers is also very dangerous. Never breath where it is working, use exhaust fan there too.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 07:05:15 pm
content: Quote from: TheElectricChicken on August 14, 2015, 01:44:32 pmI am waiting for the morning when SWMBO wakes up from the sound of the knee pops as I get out of bed

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2015, 07:13:19 pm
content: Quote from: Deathwish on August 14, 2015, 12:06:27 pmMust remember to look in the garden then to see if there is any more growing wild then....... I have some nice Marigold plants growing in a window box. They look identical till you get flowers, but you do not want to smoke the ones in my window box, planted there for mosquito control.There were a couple of 2m ones I pulled out a while ago, and they went out in the trash, much to the disappointment of the Garden Services guys. I was tempted to tell them of the Black Mamba living in the one corner, but I wanted them to actually come back. That snake was major peed off when I moved him from near the house to the far end using a spade and broom. At least it was not a spitting Cobra, that would have been buried in little pieces. Mamba 30 minutes, Cobra 3, hospital has Mamba antivenom........

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2015, 10:10:44 pm
content: I tried a Hakko FA400 today - the noise level was much too high so I'm going to start with a 120mm 12V fan and build something around it.I've got a cnc so I can cut wood or mdf and I've got two ideas. One is pure simple, just cut two mdf pieces and sandwich the fan between them. They will keep it from tipping over and I can inlay a cut on one side to put a filter in and use some sort of clip to hold it in. Couldn't be simplier, but it is an "upright one".My second idea was to try to duplicate what the FA400 was doing in tipped over mode, it has a smaller rectangle that it will draw air through. In this case I would take my first idea and only keep the mdf with the filter inlay part. Tip it over and then use two triangular sides to hold it at the angle and create an end to draw air through. Would the benefit be worth the additional complication? How much of a window is effective? The fan is 120mm square, so would 60mm x 120mm be a good plan or even shorter?I've ordered some filters - I'll post a picture when I get something built...

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2015, 10:47:15 pm
content: I can't speak with the authority of a massive study or scholarly paper, but I do know that the smoke bothers me. After a long soldering session I can be short of breath and coughing.It took me a long time to realize that physics was concentrating the smoke around me. I used to work in a relatively cool work area with little or no forced ventilation. The heat from my body was causing a localized thermal flow that drew smoke from the soldering activity up past my face. A column of smoke would clearly move laterally a foot or more as it was drawn into the airflow. The only solutions to this other than much longer arms and the better eyesight required to utilize them are increasing room temperature to near or above body heat or forced ventilation. I strongly recommend fans, hoods or whatever other method of achieving this is convenient for you.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2015, 12:10:44 pm
content: Well, here is the 5 minute solution... When the filters come in I can just throw one on top perhaps.

author: timofonic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2015, 08:37:57 pm
content: Quote from: alank2 on September 10, 2015, 12:10:44 pmNecroposting!I did something similar but using a bigger fan, I'm not sure if it's more psychological or does something but I feel less dizzy when soldering. I had a really dizzy episode where I didn't sleep all night and was soldering, I got unconscious by nights and I feeled like having flu. I asked to a toxology phone number and they explained me the symphtoms, because my local health center had no f+++ idea as usual.

author: fivefish
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2015, 09:58:12 pm
content: Having a 12V computer fan (Noctua's are nice and silent) blowing across/sideways so the smoke does't rise up directly to my face helps. (Also helps me having a big magnifying glass in front of me, so that also blocks the smoke rising towards my face).I used to have the desktop fume extractor but it makes more noise than suction air pressure. So had to put it very close to PCB fo it to do it's job but it keeps getting in the way of work. I just threw it away when I got fed up with it. The above computer fan blowing across makes for a better solution.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2015, 04:21:34 pm
content: I bought a pack of carbon filter pad media from an aquarium supply store. Two 1 sq ft (31x31cm) panels, about 1/2" (12mm) thick for about $7. Three layers of this in front of a strategically positioned 120 mm "silent" computer fan is quite effective. You get four (three layer thick) filter changes for your $7 investment. Activated carbon is ultra porous and will capture even organic solvent fumes and all manner of other nasty crap.

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2015, 09:13:43 pm
content: I solder from age 15, and now I'm 65, and I'm a smoker too...I've tested big fume extractors, fans similar to the Hakko posted previously, open room windows, anything.They must be near the iron tip, and the disturb your work, and if you are soldering a lot of boards on a 60 x 40 cm board holder you'll never find the right spot.I do not breathe direct solder smoke, but it hurts my eyes.My old home lab in the basement has a nasty oily deposit on every surface, including instruments cases, and it's not cigarette smoke (i know from the smell).The only valid solution I found is a fume extractor at the iron tip, such as the one made by Weller (see pic below).It catches almost all the fumes, and do not obstruct too much the vision of the work area.I remember that there was a similar Hakko unit, but I cannot find in to-day's catalog.Years ago you could find independent extractor tubes to be attached to almost any iron.I built a suction unit using a surplus pump and home made filters, and it was a pleasure to use...The difficult part was the noise from the pump (it was a piston type).I solved it by placing the box with the pump and the filter outside the lab (it was a small run of a small diameter tube): you cannot do this with a fan.Best regards

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2015, 09:35:28 pm
content: Quote from: Stonent on August 14, 2015, 11:09:39 amActually, studies have shown no higher instances of lung cancer in life long cannabis smokers as compared to non-smokers. I don't remember the exact details of the study, but it makes sense when you think about it. Cigarettes contain a ton of chemicals and additives. Pot doesn't and *may* actually reduce the risk of some cancers (not conclusively proven yet).Plus, cannabis can be vaporized, which eliminates the smoke entirely. That's why eCigs are so popular now; nicotine without the smoke.Someone needs to come up with some eFlux; rosin mixed with propelyene glycol. Then it would vaporize instead of burn, clearly rendering it safe to inhale! XD

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2015, 04:34:45 am
content: Nobody really knows what the safety of cannabis is. There aren't that many studies, and there are plenty of people who have a vested interest in the outcome. Just like big tobacco when they were trotting out their data that cigarettes were safe.I think the statement that any kind of smoke is probably not good for you is a perfectly valid statement. Some kinds are lots worse than others, but who wants to be in a how close can I get to lung damage without crossing the threshold race? Particularly when individual results vary widely from the averages. Just as some folks smoke cigarettes heavily all of their lives with no apparent ill affects while others get cancer from being in the house with a smoker. So the game is not only what kind and how much smoke can the average person take, but how much can I take. Results available in 20 years with no do overs.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2015, 08:26:22 am
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on December 04, 2015, 04:34:45 amSo, what would be the absolutely worst kind of smoke you could inhale?I'm thinking asbestos soaked in hydrochloric acid, with a sprinkling of very finely ground glass.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2015, 10:30:06 am
content: Quote from: TheElectricChicken on August 13, 2015, 02:35:14 pmDue to lack of knowledge, people may be exposed to hazards.In some cases the knowledge may not be public, but there is a cover-up to protect business or political interests. Examples are tobacco companies, VW, the Roman Catholic Church, British A-bomb tests on Australia, CSL and James Hardie. (CSL with their medical experiments on orphans.) The woman who bought the iPad charger in Sydney had no idea about the lack of safety of such a device and as a result was electrocuted. She was ignorant like most people about safety approvals, and we are still have a government which is asleep at the wheel on educating people and policing the import of dangerous electrical products.If the victims were able to know of the hazard, there would be no way they would agree to being exposed to such hazards. Some victims like the orhpans has no voice, no one to speak for them.Don't rely governments, companies, or institutions who want to protect their "good name at all costs" to tell the truth. Knowledge and education are the keys.

author: Artlav
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2015, 10:34:11 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on December 04, 2015, 10:30:06 amHuh, never heard of them. Was there actually any cover-up about them? Sounds more like some obscure part of history.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2015, 11:18:09 pm
content: Quote from: Artlav on December 04, 2015, 10:34:11 amhttp://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/british-scientists-secretly-used-australian-population-to-test-for-radiation-contamination-after-nuclear-tests-at-maralinga/story-fni6uo1m-1227041781005No, it was not the Nazi's this time...http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/horror-and-betrayal-true-story-atom-bombs-australi/2376050/The video in this link summarizes it all...http://splash.abc.net.au/home#!/media/105376/nuclear-tests-at-maralingaThe British announced compensation for its own victims in 2012 but they denied compensation to their Australian guinea pigs. They did pay some funds to help clean-up the Maralinga site. The Australian government has pretty much ignored the victims and is waiting for the soldiers to die off rather than paying compensation.These crimes by the British government is one good reason why Australia should have given Britain and its Queen the royal flick and become a republic years ago.http://www.foe.org.au/dig-secrets-lesson-maralingas-vixen-bSome docos on the issue...Cut and paste the link and remove the space after the first "h" on the Youtube links...h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4ei_pypCF8h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erQRAHmTL9k

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2015, 06:49:20 am
content: Quote from: Artlav on December 04, 2015, 10:34:11 amWhere do you think all of those strange animals came from?

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2015, 06:50:40 am
content: Now that I've had some time to think about it, I think the best way to deal with rosin smoke is a coffee straw up the nose and snort lines of it out of the air.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2015, 02:05:46 pm
content: Quote from: timb on December 03, 2015, 09:35:28 pmIt does not really make much sense that smoking cannabis should be less of a risk for lung cancer as cannabis smoke contains many of the same compounds as tobacco smoke, also many smokers of cannabis mix resin with tobacco which, logically, is likely to present the same risks as smoking tobacco alone.It is also worth remembering that "lung cancer" covers at least three distinct types of cancer - small cell, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, each with its own risk factors and that smoking is a risk factor for other types of cancer as well - most particularly bladder cancer where it is the most important factor/You are correct that there are relatively few studies and even fewergoodstudies but lack of ademonstratedassociation does not prove lack of association. In fact a 2008 case controlled studyhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2516340/suggested similar lung cancer risks amongst tobacco smokers and cannabis smokers.And, yes, I am aware that supporters claim that cannabis "cures" cancers and cite this as a reason that we haven't proven an association but, frankly, evidence is pretty weak for that as well.There is quite a good write up on the Cancer Research UK websitehttp://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2012/07/25/cannabis-cannabinoids-and-cancer-the-evidence-so-far/

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2015, 07:42:35 pm
content: Quote from: timb on December 04, 2015, 08:26:22 amUnion carbide in Bhopal...........Did not opertate the plant safely, so they vented 30 tons of toxic gas direct to the atmosphere.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster

author: Thorondor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 08:39:49 am
content: I try to be aware of my personal safety, so I usually try to mitigate the risks of working in a situation where air quality may be an issue (such as soldering).Usually that just means having good ventilation - such as a nearby window fan on full exhaust and a smaller fan near my work piece to keep the smoke away from my face. If that's not feasible or adequate, then I wear a respirator with a P100/Multigas/Vapor cartridge. I don't think you can get cleaner air unless you went with supplied air.