To go along with the question on solder types, what about the fumes created from the flux? Most of the smoke you see while soldering is the flux burning away. Is that smoke or the fumes included in it harmful? Let me know what you think below.
However, there were the good old days when folks would smoke at the bench while soldering. It was like the double barrel approach. Anyone with an old bench in a lab will more than likely still have the cigarette burns still on it.
Why is it that without a fume extraction system the solder fumes always drift towards my head, move my head and they still drift towards it?
Most dusts (natural and manmade) and chemical vapours are IMO harmful: at the lower exposure limits you just don't notice any immediate side-effects but over years/decades some harm is bound to occur. So whatever you can afford, be it a simple 4" extractor to outside, a fan blowing gently away from you, a fume mask or full spec solder fume extractor unit...it will be a worthy investment.
Like everything fun it is hazardous to our health. Unfortunately I am quite often in a position where an extractor isn't available. I try to limit exposure with open areas. Unfortunately if your standing on your head in the cab of a tractor repairing harnesses that open space is quite limited....
Different brands and formulations of the rosin definitely have different toxicity. I have some really old solder that is way worse than the more modern stuff.
I can tell by the smell - one good whiff of the bad stuff and I know I'm going to suffer.
I too sometimes get that ... but not all the time. At one stage I thought I was like a cat-lover with a cat allergy ... telling me to go do something else.
Now, I find it changes depending on a number of factors including the solder brand/type of flux - I find rosin stuff smells rather nice but is a bit smokey, but the crystal-flux types tend not to smoke as much. The other factor was actually turning down my iron temperature - initially I had it set high enough that flux splatter could happen occasionally, but since turning it down and sticking to 60/40, I've had no irritation even without a fume extractor. The higher temperature lead-free stuff I have tends to be irritating even though it doesn't seem to visibly smoke ... it made me wonder why lead-free was considered safer although I can't vouch for the accuracy of this source as they are a vendor of soldering-related equipment.
EDIT: We probably should have a poll about "What soldering iron tip temperature are you using?" - I find after using a regulated soldering-station type iron, I set my temperatures lower and that improves tip life, iron handle temperature comfort and reduces smoke ...
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