This info all comes from Stellar Technical Products. It has been edited to remove the info not related to stained glass.
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Solder is used in many industries from electronics and sheet metal to stained glass. Flux, an acid mixture, is always used in conjunction with the solder to permit the molten solder to bond with the surfaces being joined. Solder Dust vs Solder Fumes When soldering, most people do not wear gloves and hold the iron and solder wire by hand. It’s important to note that if your solder contains lead and you hold the solder wire or bar, you will get lead dust on your hands. This is the route in which lead can get into your system, as most exposure to lead occurs through breathing or eating. Therefore, it’s critical that you wash your hands with soap and water whenever you step away from the workbench. It is preferable to wear gloves and leave the gloves on the bench or wear disposable ones. Solder metal will only create fumes if heated above ~ 1200°F, which won’t happen in normal soldering applications whether using a soldering iron or a pot. So, for most users’ soldering applications, it’s the dust or residue from touching the solder itself that can cause a health issue. Flux Fumes Fluxes are chemical mixtures containing acids, sometimes solvents and other chemicals. During the soldering process, fluxes are heated to the reflow temperature of the solder, converting some of the flux ingredients to gas fumes. Most of these fumes escape in the air, but if you are close enough to the solder joint you could breathe in some of these fumes. Protection Recommended during Soldering The bottom line is that it is important to protect yourself from ingesting or breathing lead dust or acid fumes that can compound over time and damage your health. Consult the SDS for the brand of material you are using and keep it on file to make sure you are protecting yourself properly.
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