Rosin core solder thermal decomposition products (colophony)
Agent Name
Rosin core solder thermal decomposition products (colophony)
Major Category
Other Uses
Synonyms
Rosin flux pyrolysis products; Rosin core soldering flux pyrolysis products; [NIOSH]
Category
Pyrolysis Products
Description
Pyrolysis products of rosin core solder include acetone, aliphatic aldehydes, methyl alcohol, methane, ethane, various abietic acids (the major components of rosin), CO & CO2; [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
Occupational asthma reported in electronics workers and in workers manufacturing solder flux; [Malo] Both wood rosin and gum rosin are produced in the US. Wood rosin is extracted from resinous stumps of pine trees. Gum rosin is the residue remaining after steam distilling turpentine. Gum rosin is used as a soldering flux. Thermal breakdown products include acetone, methanol, aliphatic aldehydes, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, ethane, abietic acid, and related di-terpene acids. [ACGIH]
Comments
Exposed workers have short-term reversible airways obstruction. Some workers develop permanent asthmatic disease after a symptom-free period of 1 to 6 years. Three cases of allergic contact dermatitis have been reported in workers exposed to colophony-containing solder-flux smoke. [ACGIH] See "Colophony" and "Abietic acid."
Explanatory Notes
"Control exposure to resin acids colophony to the lowest achievable concentration." [ACGIH]
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:
Activities
Activities with risk of exposure: