"The sense - and this sentence is certain - is always the nonsense that one leaves", philosopher Odo Marquard Wilhem Busch modified [1]. As is so often the case, decisions have several sides: Lead is toxic and dangerous, but the lead ban through RoHS should still be questioned.
Elizabeth I of England was usually depicted with a white powdered face. It is thought that lead in the powder used led to poisoning which contributed to her death. It may help to look at the description by Michel de Castelnau, Sieur de la Mauvissière [3] to get a slightly more objective impression than British historians are usually willing to give.
The powder that was used consisted partly of white lead and led to lead poisoning after prolonged use. Although this corresponded to the 'beauty ideal' of the time, it was nonsensical, especially as the harmfulness of lead had been known since ancient Egypt. Nowadays, some people get a melanoma in a tanning salon to show off a fashionable complexion. Lead, however, is more than frowned upon today - although, as we will see later on, different standards are applied:
The ban on lead in soldered joints has targeted a market that has contributed only insignificantly to the total consumption of the heavy metal in the world (the figures given for lead solder rank slightly below 0.5%). And there is still no proof that lead in electronic products or during production has led to poisoning.
In contrast to the elimination of lead from petrol, there has been no evidence of an effect on the health of the population following the ban on lead in solder. And the global consumption figures for lead are still growing (see Fig. 2).![Abb. 2: Bleiverbrauch weltweit von 2013 bis 2019 (in 1000 Tonnen) [4]](/images/stories/Redaktion_PLUS/Online-Artikel/plus-2021-02-0068.jpg)
Fig. 2: Lead consumption worldwide from 2013 to 2019 (in 1000 tons) [4]
This is hardly surprising, as by far the most lead is used in batteries (60 million cars per year), which will see an increase in demand with the new push for electric cars and bicycles (at least 460 million worldwide). Batteries are also essential for renewable energies such as solar panels and wind turbines to store energy when it is dark or cloudy or when there is no wind. In all these applications, lead and lead gel batteries continue to be the workhorses despite the stormy developments in LiPo, LiFePo and whatever else they may be called.
Fig. 3: Lead in use
Meanwhile, the April 2019 fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris spread just over a ton of lead-enriched dust to residents in the area. Even now, a study found greatly increased lead levels in the samples from the neighborhood: "Our final estimation of the total amount of excess lead is much larger compared with what has been reported earlier by other teams," says co-author of the new study Yuling Yao [5].
At least in the EU, the balancing weights on car wheels are no longer made of lead. And the bullets used to kill wild boar and pheasants are also made from a different material, so you don't have to bite down on lead when eating at a four-star restaurant.
The switch to 'lead-free' has cost a lot. The initial projections are no longer tangible, but occasionally a business will complain about the expense, largely unnoticed, at a lecture. Fortunately, the $2 million for the changeover and the amounts for maintenance at a manufacturer can be taken out of the pockets of users and consumers.
Nevertheless, a number of disadvantages remain, such as the increased 'whisker' problem or the increased energy consumption - despite all the concerns about electricity and the environment. The ZVEI assumes that lead-free soldering alone consumes around 10% more electricity than solder containing lead. Although this is only a drop in the ocean of electricity consumption, with around 50,000 SMT lines worldwide alone, there are still a few windmills to be erected.
Fig. 4: Costs of switching to 'lead-free' in one company
Fig. 5: President Bush jr. in the 'Oval Office
Every time political decisions are made that are accompanied by many high-ranking and well-informed advisors, the question arises as to why they are not better thought through.
It is also surprising that there have been no major success stories from politicians. There were no headlines about the deaths prevented by banning lead from the plumb line, nor was there a celebration with fireworks on any anniversary of the European legislation.
Fig. 6: China no longer wants to take the Western world's waste and scrap metal
Even when RoHS was only threatened, a high-ranking industrialist at a conference in Shanghai asked what the ultimate motivation was for banning lead in soldering, and then added his opinion: "To make life more difficult for developing countries". If this was really the case, then it backfired, because the PRC, for example, very quickly followed suit.
Strangely enough, what was hardly mentioned in the Western press was front-page news in Asia: President George W. Bush in the White House during the visit of then Chinese Premier Hu Jintao. In addition to some verbal banter, which could hardly have been funnier but did not find its way into the Western press, Hu handed over an old copy of the 'Art of War' by the strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu [6]. This can be interpreted as a diplomatic gesture - or as a slap in the face.
The industry is left to use up far more precious and rarer resources in soldering than lead. It also has to tackle several problems that keep cropping up. And finally, it must stem the tide of electrical and electronic waste and possibly get to grips with it.
About the person
Prof. Rahn is a globally active consultant in connection technology issues. 
Prof. Rahn
His new book on 'Special Reflow Processes' was recently published by Leuze Verlag. He can be contacted at
Literature:
D.R. Wilburn; D.A. Buckingham: Apparent Consumption vs. Total Consumption - A Lead-Acid Battery Case Study, Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5155, U. S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey, U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, 2006
T. Ellison; J. Szabo: RoHS Implementation Challenges for Small and Medium Sized Companies, Santa Clara Valley Chapter, Components, Packaging & Mfg Technology Society, IEEE, 2006
K.J. Puttlitz et al: Handbook of Lead-Free Solder Technology for Microelectronic Assemblies
China looks to Bush and the art of . . . peace, The Independent, April 20, 2006
https://www.dw.com/en/after-chinas-import-ban-where-to-with-the-worlds-waste/a-48213871
References:
[1] Odo Marquard (1928-2015), after "The good - this sentence is certain - is always the evil that one leaves" by Wilhelm Busch. Odo Marquard is also the originator of the subtle word monster 'incompetence compensation competence', which fits the topic.
[2] c. 1547-1619
[3] c. 1520-1592
[4] Statistica
[5] Up to SIX TIMES more lead released by Notre Dame blaze than previously estimated, RT, 9 Jul, 2020
[6] Sun Tzu is not really a tangible historical figure
