[time-nuts] RoHS Solder
Mike Monett
xde-l2g3 at myamail.com
Fri Sep 25 00:48:31 UTC 2009
SAIDJACK at aol.com wrote:
> That's kind of part of the scam in my opinion, we now create much
> more electronic trash in the name of removing miniscule amounts of
> environmentally unsafe lead from products..
> Forget about running your new Agilent counter for 25+ years like
> we used to be able to do...
> Another part of the scam is that only two companies (one a
> University if I remember correctly, one a Japanese company) hold
> the patents to the Silver based solder that everyone now needs to
> use... And according to the USGS we are quickly running out of
> mineable Silver..
It's even worse than it appears.
If you consider the danger of drinking water from lead pipes, there
is clearly some risk in disposing of lead in a landfill. Since it
accumulates in the body, the EPA sets the MCLG limit at zero:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html
The maximum contaminant level goal or MCLG means the maximum level
of a contaminant in drinking water at which no known or anticipated
adverse effect on the health of persons would occur, and which
allows an adequate margin of safety. Maximum contaminant level goals
are nonenforceable health goals.
<http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=c941f8ad5ebba0e8e95aae4dc8a070e2&rgn=div5&view=text&node=40:22.0.1.1.3&idno=40#40:22.0.1.1.3.5.16.4>
However, every year, approximately 800,000 tons of automotive
batteries enter the European Community market:
<http://epa.gov/oswer/international/factsheets/200806_tl-eu-directive-batteries-accumulators.htm>
A European directive sets a target for the recycling of at least 65%
by weight of lead-acid batteries by 26 September 2011:
<http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/waste_management/l21202_en.htm>
So each year, the remaining 0.35 * 800000 = 280,000 tons would
presumably end up in landfill somewhere.
It is difficult to see how the amount used in electronics can even
remotely compare with the amount involved in illegal disposal of car
batteries.
Mike
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