What you DON’T see is that the ban on lead has already been in place in electronics. Considering that the electronics industry uses less than 3% of the world’s lead consumption in solder, this is attacking a truly insignificant target.
The ramifications? Well, there is only one element known to man that will prevent Tin (Sn) from crystalizing and forming ‘whiskers’ that grow to sized as large as 1/4 inch or longer. What is that magical element, you ask? Why Lead (Pb).
So, after 5-7 years your new Plasma TV will quit working all of a sudden, as will your pacemaker, jets, car computer, microwave oven. Why? Because somewhere inside the electronics a tiny Tin whisker will sprout and shoot in a random direction - possibly just sticking in the air; or possibly shorting against another leg of a chip.
So, while your cell phone may be perfectly functional, a large percentage of them will be rendered inoperable in 5-7 years due to Tin Whiskers.
This effort was lead by the European weenies, and the People’s Republic of California jumped on the bandwagon too. Today, you cannot buy a chip, resistor, capacitor or inductor that has Lead in the solder. There are currently over 2,000 Lead-free solders on the market - none of which work better at making and keeping an electrical connection as good as old fashioned solder - and all will sprout whiskers in 5-7 years and cause a failure.
Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it?
Not a true ban but an effective one, based on tax incentives, right?