LEAD SOLDER

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: These products consist of odorless, lead/tin alloy wires, which have a metallic luster and may have a flux core. There are no immediate health hazards associated with these products, as wires. When heated during soldering operations, these products may generate irritating and toxic fumes of lead oxide, tin oxides, hydrogen chloride, zinc oxides, and ammonium compounds. There is a danger of cumulative effects if fumes or dusts from these products are inhaled or ingested. Contact with the rosin core of these wires can result in allergic reaction and sensitization to the skin in susceptible persons. These products are not reactive. If involved in a fire, these products may generate irritating fumes and a variety of metal oxides, as described above. Finely divided dusts of these products may result in explosive air/dust mixtures. Emergency responders must wear personal protective equipment suitable for the situation to which they are responding. SYMPTOMS OF OVER-EXPOSURE BY ROUTE OF EXPOSURE: During soldering operations, the most significant route of over-exposure is via inhalation of fumes. INHALATION: Inhalation of large amounts of particulates generated by these products during soldering operations may be physically irritating and cause deposits of dust in nasal passages. Due to the presence of lead, inhalation of fumes or dusts from these products can result in lead poisoning. Symptoms of poisoning include headache, fatigue, nausea, metallic taste in the mouth, abdominal cramps, joint pain, metallic taste in the mouth, vomiting, constipation, bloody diarrhea, and harmful effects on the central nervous system. Exposure to lead can cause significant cumulative toxic effects, effects on the reproductive system and may cause cancer. See information under “Other Health Effects” for additional information. When heated to decomposition, the rosin core of some of these products can include toxic compounds, including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, or malonaldehyde. Inhalation of these fumes can result in irritation to the respiratory system. (Continued) INHALATION (continued): Exposure to dust or fumes of the Tin components is known to cause a benign FOR WIRES HAZARDOUS MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION FOR FUMES OR DUSTS HAZARDOUS MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM HEALTH (BLUE) 0 HEALTH (BLUE) 3 FLAMMABILITY (RED) 0 (RED) 0 REACTIVITY (YELLOW) 0 REACTIVITY (YELLOW) 0 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT X PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT X EYES RESPIRATOR Y HANDS BOD Y EYES RESPIRATORY HANDS BODY See For routine industrial applications for the rods See Section 16 for Definition of Ratings pneumoconiosis (stannosis). This form of pneumoconiosis produces distinctive progressive x-ray changes of the lung as long as exposure persists, but there is no distinctive fibrosis, no evidence of disability, and no special complicating factors. In addition, inhalation of large amounts of dusts or fumes of these products, can cause metal fume fever. Symptoms of metal fume fever include flu-like symptoms, metallic taste, fever, sweating, chills, cough, weakness, chest pain, muscle pain, cardiac abnormalities, and increased white blood cell count. Damage to lungs can occur. Symptoms of metal fume fever can be delayed 24-48 hours. Refer to Section 10 (Stability and Reactivity) for information on the specific composition of soldering fumes and gases. There is some evidence that inhalation of fumes from the Ammonium Chloride component of these products may cause respiratory sensitization in susceptible individuals. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, persistent coughing and wheezing. CONTACT WITH SKIN or EYES: Contact of the wire form of these products with the skin is not anticipated to be irritating. Contact with the wire form of these products can be physically damaging to the eye. Fumes generated during soldering operations can be irritating to the skin and eyes. Symptoms of skin over-exposure may include irritation and redness; prolonged or repeated skin over-exposures may lead to dermatitis. Contact with the rosin core can result in allergic reaction and skin sensitization in susceptible individuals. Symptoms could include dermatitis, itching and persistent rash. Contact with the molten core or wire will burn contaminated skin or eyes. SKIN ABSORPTION: Skin absorption is not known to be a significant route of over-exposure for any component of these products. INGESTION: Ingestion is not anticipated to be a route of occupational exposure for these products; however, if proper hygiene (e.g. washing of hands) is not followed during handling and use of these products, ingestion of lead from contamination of the hands can occur, resulting is Lead poisoning. INJECTION: Though not a likely route of occupational exposure for these products, injection (via punctures or lacerations in the skin) may cause local reddening, tissue swelling, and discomfort.

Other Health Effects

Due to the presence of Lead in these products, exposure to dusts or fumes may result in significant adverse acute and chronic health effects, as follows. Long-term, low-level lead exposure has resulted in harm to the central nervous system and brain function. Symptoms of chronic, low to moderate levels include forgetfulness, irritability, tiredness, headache, fatigue, impotence, decreased libido, dizziness, altered mood states and depression. (continued on following page) (Continued) OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS (continued): Symptoms of chronic exposure to moderate to high lead levels include disturbances in hand to eye coordination, reaction times, visual motor performance, mental performance, gradual decrease in visual acuity with slow recovery or possible blindness, changes in hearing ability, and in worse cases, encephalopathy (a progressive degeneration of the brain and its functions). Early symptoms of encephalopathy include dullness, irritability, poor attention span, muscular tremor, headache, and loss of memory and hallucinations. Severe, chronic exposure to Lead at high concentration can result in symptoms on the central nervous system, including delirium, lack of coordination, convulsions, paralysis, coma and death. Exposure to Lead can also result in significant adverse results on the peripheral nervous system, including harm to nerves in hands, legs and feet. These effects can be reversible if exposure is short term (5 months or less) and treatment is received; if not, these effects can become permanent. A syndrome known as “Lead Palsy” can occur, with symptoms such as weakness of legs or arms, weakness and paralysis of the wrist, fingers and ankles. At lower exposure levels decreased hand dexterity has been reported. At higher exposure levels an ability to hold the foot or hand in extended position can occur. Exposure to Lead can also cause adverse effects on the gastrointestinal system, including loss of appetite, inflammation of the stomach walls (gastritis), colic, severe abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, weight loss and decreased urination. In severe cases of Lead poisoning, a deposit of Lead occurs in the gums near the base of the teeth, resulting in a visible blue-gray line. Reversible kidney injury has been observed in some cases of workers exposed to Lead at chronic, low to moderate levels. Death due to kidney failure has occurred to workers chronically exposed to Lead at moderate levels. Exposure to Lead can cause harmful effects to certain types of blood cells, including reduced hemoglobin production and reduced life-span and function of red blood cells. This harm can cause anemia in workers exposed to moderate levels. Low, moderate and high level exposure to Lead may increase blood pressure, especially in men. Some studies have indicated that moderate exposure to Lead can result in electrocardiographic abnormalities. There is some evidence that low- level exposure to Lead can cause harmful effects on the thyroid and immune systems, including possible susceptibility to colds and flu infections. Exposure to Lead, especially at high levels, has resulted in significant adverse effects in the reproductive systems of both men and women. Refer to Section 11 (Toxicological Information, Reproductive Toxicity Information) for additional information. HEALTH EFFECTS OR RISKS FROM EXPOSURE: An Explanation in Lay Terms. Symptoms associated with over- exposure to these products and the fumes generated during soldering operations are as follows: ACUTE: Inhalation of large amounts of particulates generated by these products during metal processing operations may be physically irritating and cause deposits of dust in nasal passages. Inhalation of dusts and fumes of these products can cause metal fume fever or irritation of the respiratory system. Contact with the molten material will burn contaminated skin or eyes. Significant adverse effects on the blood, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, central and peripheral nervous systems. CHRONIC: Chronic skin over-exposure to the fumes of these products during soldering operations may produce dermatitis (red, inflamed skin). Repeated or prolonged over-exposures, via inhalation, to the dusts generated by these products may cause pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of lung tissue). Chronic inhalation of fumes or dusts of the components of these products, can result in severe, adverse effects on the blood and heart, kidneys, thyroid and immune systems, and central and periphery nervous system, due to the presence of Lead. Contact with the rosin core of some of these products can cause an allergic skin reaction and sensitization in susceptible individuals. Due to the presence of the Ammonium Chloride compound in the flux core of some of these products, inhalation of fumes from soldering may cause allergic respiratory reaction and respiratory sensitization in susceptible individuals. Due to the Lead component in these products, contact may result in significant adverse effects on the reproductive system. See Section 11 (Toxicological Information) for additional information. TARGET ORGANS For fumes ACUTE Skin, eyes, respiratory system, blood system, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, gastrointestinal system. CHRONIC: Skin, central nervous system, kidneys, heart, blood, central nervous system, thyroid, immune system, reproductive system. What should I do if a hazardous situation occurs?