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Intense generation of respirable metal nanoparticles from a low-power soldering unit
Virginia Gómez1, Silvia Irusta, Francisco Balas
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Nanoscience Institute of Aragon INA, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
Abstract:
Evidence of intense nanoparticle generation from a low power (45W) flux soldering unit is presented. This is a familiar device often used in daily life, including home repairs and school electronic laboratories. We demonstrate that metal-containing nanoparticles may reach high concentrations (ca. 10(6) particles/cm(3)) within the breathing range of the operator, with initial size distributions centered at 35-60nm The morphological and chemical analysis of nanoparticle agglomerates collected on TEM grids and filters confirms their multiparticle structure and the presence of metals.

