Effects of exposure to lead, tin and fluorspar in a soldering operation

ABSTRACT

Soldering is a principal operation in electronics andrelated industries. Lead tin alloy is used as a soft solder. In such processes, a flux is added to this alloy to clean and dry the solded surface. The flux used in this operation is fluorspar [calcium fluoride]. Solderers were exposed to the fumes of lead, tin as well as fluorine gas and oxygen fluorides. The results showed that solderers [n=67] were symptomatizing fromneurological [43.3%], musculoskeletal [32.8%] and gastro intestinal [13.4%] manifestations consistent with chronic lead poisoning. Respiratory symptoms in the form of tightness of the chest on exposure [19.4%] and chronic bronchitis [6%] could be due to inhalation of oxides of fluorine as well as isocyanates liberated from heating fluorspar an polyurethane coating of solded wires, respectively. The eye and nose irritation might be also caused by such irritant gases. Skin manifestations in the form of falling hair, alopecia areata and pruritus could be due to exposure of the skin to these irritant gases as well as possible psychic stress. Pallorand hypertension [16.4%and13.4%, respectively] as well as neurological signs [10.4%] are mostly related to lead poisoning. Cases with chest tightness showed 10-21.4% reduction in FEV1 value from the basic level confirming the diagnosis of occupational asthma in those cases