Copper wire is nice to look at but dangerous to solder.
Copper is listed as a hazardous material and for good reasons. Whether it is soldering parts to circuit boards or removing them, copper will need to be melted in order to do the job. Copper is a reddish-brown metal that melts at low heat. It easily turns into a vapor that can do severe damage to our bodies. Copper in our devices has made our lives easy, while putting its manufacturers at risk.
Dust and Fumes
Copper dust from surface preparation can be breathed into the lungs as well as clog skin pores. Vapor produced as the copper is melted during the soldering process is much more harmful. Its molecular size is smaller and lighter than dust. While dust clogs the pores and lungs, the vapor penetrates both, causing greater damage. Dust and vapors can cause conditions from dermatitis to cumulative lung damage.
Short-Term Effects
Copper fumes -- finely divided black strands of particulate dispersed in air -- may cause numerous effects. The effects usually show up a few hours after first inhalation and last a day or two. Most common health issues arise from irritated eyes, nose and throats. Effects can be mild coughing or wheezing or nosebleeds. Fumes may also cause "metal fume fever" which gives you flu-like symptoms along with a metallic taste in the mouth.
Long-Term Effects
Repeated exposure to copper fumes may cause a chronic irritation of the nose. It can cause ulcers or a hole in the bone in the nose. Over time it can cause the skin to thicken. Your teeth, hair and skin can take on a greenish color. High levels of copper in the body can decrease fertility. Breathing in copper fumes puts a strain on the liver, causing damage as it tries to remove the copper.
Arsenic Trioxide
Arsenic trioxide is a part of copper, and it is considered toxic. Skin lesions and nasal septum perforations along with dermatological troubles are just the start of troubles. It can affect the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. It also increases the incidence of lung and lymphatic cancers over prolonged periods. Although arsenic trioxide is not technically copper, you ingest arsenic trioxide along with the copper.
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