OT - Exposure to solder fumes/pregnancy

[amonte]

It's been a while since I've posted here, but I'm a bit uneasy right now and thought this might help me feel better.

My wife is 8 months pregnant with our first child.  We've tried to be extremely careful with exposing her (and the baby) to harmful substances, but today I feel as if I made a mistake.  I wanted to complete a project that I had started yesterday while she was out, so I went in the garage to work with my soldering iron.  There is no ventilation to the house from the garage (other than through the seams in the door), and I worked with the door to the house closed and with the garage door opened.  I probably was in there for a total of 20-30 minutes, having soldered a total of 16 or so connections.  My wife didn't enter the garage at the time, and I didn't re-enter the house until a good 5-10 minutes had passed since I completed soldering.

Still, I was a bit nervous about any exposure she may have had.  She didn't enter the garage, but was in an adjacent room for part of the time.  While part of me feels like I'm being paranoid, I can't help it - if something were to be wrong with our child, I would blame myself, whether it's a rational fear or not. 

While I know I should probably be asking a doctor these questions, I can't ask her doctor - I'm not even telling her about my concerns because I know it will only make her worry.  So I'm hopeing some fellow pedal makers might be able to ease my mind, at the very least.  Needless to say, I won't be working on any more projects for a while. 

[greenacarina]

I'm certainly no doctor, but as an overly-protective parent my honest opinion is you are just paranoid. Quite understandable as a responsible person you want to do all the right things...especially when it comes to pregnancy. Good on you for doing the best for your wife, but don't worry so much. 
Chris

[MR COFFEE]

I don't think you have anything to worry about there. That exposure is so miniscule.

Now having a kid - that's something to make you worry for the next 20 years.

Not to worry.

[JonFrum]

The first rule of toxicology - "Dosage is everything".  I wouldn't worry about seconds of "second hand smoke".

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

yeah, solder fumes are no problem, compared to stuff like glue solvents & a million other things. Especially at this late stage. Plus people lose sight of the fact that it's the amount of exposure to toxic agents that matters. All of us over 20 have been exposed to asbestos fibers from buildings & probably even water via asbestos fiber piping, but 99% of asbestos caused cancer is limited to asbestos mineworkers and tradesmen who worked every day covered in the stuff.
One thing I would do, if a child was on the way, is throw out your TV.

[JimRayden]

I just imagined Gregory House doing his clinic hours with you as his patient with the same problem.

That wasn't a long scene. He looked at you blankly and walked right out of the room.

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Jimbo

[rockgardenlove]

Paranoia.

Congratulations ( condolences?  ) on the kid!

[amonte]

Guys, thank you so much for helping me out here.  I appreciate all the words of encouragement as well.  I guess, you're right - I'm being paranoid.  I guess it's just natural to try and protect the baby...

Thanks again - this really helped a lot.

[zachary vex]

the fumes from soldering contain some nasty stuff but very little lead.  you can get a fan with a filter on it that will absorb a lot of the stuff that you can get into your lungs.  just put it right next to where you're working. 

http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?Ref=3038&Row=519282&Site=US

if you're worried about lead, wear protective gloves while soldering and throw them away each time when you're done.  at the very least, be sure to wash your hands really well after soldering.  the lead is on your fingers, not in the air.  very little lead goes into the air when you solder.

[Snuffy]

One thing I would do, if a child was on the way, is throw out your TV.

+1

is wearing somesort of facemask common for lengthy soldering?

[Cliff Schecht]

the fumes from soldering contain some nasty stuff but very little lead.  you can get a fan with a filter on it that will absorb a lot of the stuff that you can get into your lungs.  just put it right next to where you're working. 

http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?Ref=3038&Row=519282&Site=US

if you're worried about lead, wear protective gloves while soldering and throw them away each time when you're done.  at the very least, be sure to wash your hands really well after soldering.  the lead is on your fingers, not in the air.  very little lead goes into the air when you solder.

I always wash my hands after working on a project, especially if I reach into any of my junk bins, my hands feel  dirty and gritty when I'm done. I won't touch a guitar, even to test out a newly finished project, until I wash my hands. I'm not overly obsessive about this or anything, I just hate ruining a new set of strings with dirty hands.

[amonte]

the fumes from soldering contain some nasty stuff but very little lead.  you can get a fan with a filter on it that will absorb a lot of the stuff that you can get into your lungs.  just put it right next to where you're working. 

http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?Ref=3038&Row=519282&Site=US

if you're worried about lead, wear protective gloves while soldering and throw them away each time when you're done.  at the very least, be sure to wash your hands really well after soldering.  the lead is on your fingers, not in the air.  very little lead goes into the air when you solder.

Thanks for the reply, Zach.  I know I should (and will) get a fan - I guess I haven't done it yet because it's so rare that I actually get to work on a project, I felt I didn't need it.  I think this was the first time I've used my iron since my wife was pregnant, and she's 8 months pregnant, so it's at least 8 months since I did any work!  Still, I know I should be more careful for my own health, but my main concern right now is the health of her and the baby. 

The link didn't show anything - was it for a fan?

[Dai H.]

probably for a tabletop fume extractor. I made a simple one from a surplus fan and a replacement filter. Doesn't catch all of the smoke and if I run it on max. voltage it's noisy but it works okay and is better than nothing.

[zachary vex]

yes.  you can find them using the search function, but making your own is much cheaper.  it's just as simple as it seems... a metal frame box that holds the fan and a filter in place and it has a switch on it.

[JimRayden]

You should be more worried about the amount of Sulphur in the air this night of year.

---------
Jimbo

[Cliff Schecht]

I like the smell of solder fumes . I also love the smell of a freshly heated soldering iron.

[george]

I like the smell of solder fumes . I also love the smell of a freshly heated soldering iron.

so do i .... that's why I try to avoid breathing when I'm melting solder...

[markm]

I like the smell of solder fumes . I also love the smell of a freshly heated soldering iron.

......smells like Victory! 

[8mileshigh]

I use an Inland fume trap that I use for stained glass when soldering boards/assembly.  It works like a charm but if I have to spend over an hour with an iron, I'll also use a organic vapour cartridge mask.  They're not that comfortable but they sure keep you from breathing solder fumes.

Chris

[The Tone God]

Take an old magnifying pose-able desk lamp (you can buy one cheap at a used furniture type store), take the glass and light guts out, mount a fan in the hole where the glass was, put a switch in where the light switch went for the fan, buy the replacement filters for the solder fume extractors like that of what Mr. Vex linked to, strap the filter to the fan. You now have a fume extractor for less then the price of the same thing you would buy from a electronic equipment retailer. The secret is really the filters.

I have been preaching wearing glove while soldering for awhile now. I have a dedicate set of work gloves just for soldering. They are fairly tight so I can handle things, protect my hands from burns caused by iron slippage, stop solder spit/splatter that may hit my hands, and did not cost that much. Cheap insurance.

Andrew