Archive

---

Med. Pr. 2002;53(6)

Assessment of exposure to toxic metals released during soldering and brazing processes

Ocena narażenia na toksyczne metale przy procesach lutowania

Wanda Matczak

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess toxic metal exposure in workers performing soldering and brazing operations. The study group included workers of three plants manufacturing electronic systems, household equipment and electric motors. Membrane filters were used to collect 50 air samples, including personal 8-h samples to assess average weighed concentration of soldering and brazing fumes and their elements, and to assay respirable dust and "background" or "area" samples. After testing by gravimetry, the filter with collected sample was mineralized with concentrated HCL/HNO₃ and 10 ml sample solution in 32%HCL/4%HNO₃ was prepared according to OSHA ID-206. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to assess the contents of lead (Pb), tin (Sn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), antimony (Sb), silver (Ag) and manganese (Mn) in the sample solution. The quantitative analysis revealed that time-weighed average (TWA) of fume concentrations were:
- soldering fume <0.5ś1.1 mg/m³, Cu <0.003ś0.034 mg/m³, Pb <0.014ś0.037 mg/m³, Sn <0.15 mg/m³, Sb <0.035 mg/m³;
- brazing fume <0.5ś0.8 mg/m³, Cu <0.003ś0.038 mg/m³, Zn <0.003ś0.025 mg/m³, Pb <0.014ś0.023 mg/m³, Ag <0.014 mg/m³, Sn <0.15 mg/m³, Mn <0.07ś0.12 mg/m³.
The results show that on the day of measurements, working conditions at solderer/brazer workplaces were safe, i.e. relevant MAC values were not exceeded.

Key words

metals, fumes, soldering, brazing, exposure assessment