Solder MSDS

[ellice]

Hi all,
Had an incident yesterday while heating solder during a prac, where a girl had a slight asthma attack and needed to use her puffer because of fumes!!!! There was a bit of burning of sugar and salt going on at the same time, with the accompanying smoke, so who knows. Anyway, the parent is hounding the safety set up, and even though we have a Risk Assessment for that prac, I don't have an MSDS for solder. I'm presumimg it was bought at the hardware shop years ago. I've looked on Chemwatch, and not having much luck. Any suggestions? Any feedback appreciated.
Regards, Ellice.

[Slartibartfast]

Solder is full of lead and the smoke is very toxic especially if it contains a flux core. I have no doubt whatsoever about the ability of the fumes present to bring on an asthma attack.

Always use in a very well ventilated area. How come it was being used without a current MSDS being present? A Hazard assessment is one step in the right direction but doesn't contain details of what to do when something goes wrong. A lot of people forget to wash their hands very thoroughly after handling also. It can be as simple as that to make you feel unwell.

It will be along the lines of...
(Example only. This is my Consolidated Alloys resin flux solder MSDS)

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET for
Tin / Lead Solder

Section 04 Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
Flash Point/Method Used Not Flammable
Flammable Limits N/A
Extinguishing Media N/A
Fire-Fighting Equipment If metal is present where there is a fire, wear
self-contained breathing apparatus in case
of poisonous lead fumes.
Special Precautions None
Section 05 Reactivity Data
Stability: Stable
Conditions to avoid N/A
Hazardous Polymerization Will not occur
Conditions to avoid N/A
Incompatibility Strong acids, oxidizers, reducing agents, halogens.
Hazardous Decomposition
Products Lead fumes at high temperatures (above 800 deg F)
Section 06 Spill, Lead and Disposal Procedures
Action to take for spills/leaks: Allow to solidify and collect in sealed drums
for disposal.
Disposal Method: Return to supplier for reprocessing
Section 07 Health Hazard Data
Eye: Dust or fume will be irritant.
Skin Contact: Not a route of entry into the body.
Skin Absorption: Not a route of entry into the body.
Ingestion: Ingestion of dust or fume must be avoided. Lead is toxic and
cumulative, affecting the kidneys, reproductive system and
nervous system. Symptoms of chronic overexposure include
anemia, insomnia, weakness, irritability, constipation and
stomach pains. Antimony is toxic and dust or fume can cause
nasal septal ulceration and stomach lining irritation. Tin is
not regarded as toxic, but excessive exposure can cause fever,
nausea, stomach cramps or diarrhea. Alloyed silver is unlikely to
be hazardous.
This product, when used for welding and similar applications,
Produces chemicals known to cause cancer and birth defects
(or other reproductive harm.)
(California Health & Safety Code 25249.5 et seq).
Inhalation: Inhalation of dust and fumes must be avoided. Irritation of nose
and bronchial tracts may occur as well as effects due to absorption
of lead, etc. in blood stream.
Systemic & Other Effects: UNK.

Sorry to be a wet fish but junior student use should be avoided unless a dem in a fume cuboard. I solder electronics a lot and the fumes are horrible in both smell and side affects.

[Slartibartfast]

Found this also which is applicable to what has happened:

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH HAZARDS?
Respiratory effects
When heated, particularly to temperatures above
200°C, rosin-based solder fluxes form fumes
containing a range of resin acid particulates and
other components as gases. Lower temperatures can
significantly reduce the amount of fume produced.
Between 250°C and 400°C particulate fume levels
can triple.

When inhaled, rosin-based solder flux fume can lead
to occupational asthma or make existing asthmatic
conditions worse. The fume can also cause irritation
to the eyes and upper respiratory tract.

Rosin-based solder flux fume is now regarded as one
of the most important causes of occupational
asthma in Britain. When the asthmatic effects are fully
developed they are permanent and irreversible.
Continued exposure, even to very small amounts of
fume, may cause asthma attacks and the person
affected may be unable to do any soldering with
rosin-based fluxes again.

Typical early symptoms are watery and prickly eyes,
runny or blocked nose, a sore throat, coughing,
wheezing or breathing difficulties. These may start
within minutes of exposure or be delayed for several
hours, so that their link to work may not be
immediately recognised. However, improvement at
weekends and holidays often points to the symptoms
being job related.

The precise constituents of the fume causing
occupational asthma and irritation are not known.
From a review of scientific evidence it has not been
possible to identify a safe level of exposure below
which occupational asthma will not occur. Exposure to
all rosin-based solder flux fumes should, therefore, be
avoided or kept as low as is reasonably practicable.

And the DET's thoughts on usage:

When soldering ensure good ventilation to prevent inhaling heavy metal fumes. Where brazing metal with a flame, this must be undertaken in a hot metals work area with the appropriate mechanical ventilation. Wash hands after handling solder or soldering to remove heavy metal particles.
Note: Solder may be used by students Year 7-12, provided there is close supervision by teachers who have considered all the OH&S issues. The use of solder by students must be approved by the principal. Disposal: Solid waste of this chemical may be disposed of in the garbage (to landfill).

[Jazz]

hi,

MSDS should be manufacture specific, if you can not find it in the Chemwatch just call manufacturer or visit their website they will fax MSDS for you, I just did it for acetone (manufactured by Maxi Product).
There are some in Chemwatch