🚀 go-pugleaf

I wondered the same thing when I was making tens of thousands of solder
joints (literally) as part of a prototype production project at a local
university.  I won't tell you which, but they do have a terrific men's
basketball team.  The occupational health office finally agreed to give
me a blood lead test, and found the level to be lower than the national
average.

This was somewhat surprizing, until the doc pointed out that it is
probably the flux that creates the bulk of the vapors which we all
inhale some of.  The solder itself doesn't vaporize until you get it
REALLY hot, which is why the guy at the radiator repair shop seems so
unusual.  The main source of blood lead in the average American is from
car exhaust.  You probably get a higher chronic level of lead exposure
from driving around and filling the tank of your car than you do from
all the soldering you will ever do (as a hobbyist, anyway).  When you
read "unleaded" gas, think "decaffienated" coffee.

What I would recommend is to use the lead-free solder from Radio Shack
that you mentioned (they are good for SOMETHING, if your not too
paranoid to reveal your name), don't hold the solder in your mouth
while you have both hands on your work (I have seen people do this),
put a small fan blowing across the workbench to disperse the smoke, and
make sure you wash your hands between soldering and eating, drinking,
or smoking.  Should be normal for the rest of your life!

Good Luck,

Dev Palmer
dpalmer@mcnc.org
MCNC Room 212
P.O. Box 12889
RTP, NC  27709-2889
(919) 248-1837
(919) 248-1455 FAX