Headphones harmful chemical warning (Proposition 65)?

[dickiefunk]

Hi,

I have just been reading how many headphones have the following warning on them :-

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UpY7WxvqBMhxfjF26

SOS1.png (31.1 KiB) Viewed 5118 times

I’ve noticed this on brands such as Audeze, Audio Technica, Focal, Sennheiser and Shure and am wondering if this applies to all headphones and electrical products?

Do any headphone manufacturers not have these warnings?

[ConcertinaChap]

As I understand it the chemical referred to in audio gear is lead in solder. Many, many products from all over the world carry this warning due to California being an important market.

Personally I think it unlikely that I'll take any harm from the lead in my headphones as I'm not intending to eat them. YMMV, as they say in California.

CC

[Logarhythm]

It could also be components used in the manufacture of the plastics and resins from which some of the components are made. Note that some of these substances on the Prop 65 list are used in plastics are permitted for use even in direct food-contact materials in Europe, knowing there is a possibility of transfer into the food up to specified limits, even though the regulation of such things at EU level is generally far stricter than in the US. (And indeed is based on generally fairly solid risk-assessments, copies of which are publicly available if you're particularly concerned/interested).
The principle behind the list is broadly good, but the implementation is a bit misguided IMO.

I agree with CC - unless you're planning to eat the headphones, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Wonks]

Also note that it says 'may contain', not 'contains'. If such a substance was normally present then it would say 'contains'. I've seen those labels.

So this is like food warning where you get a ' may contain traces of nuts' notice because the factory makes other products that have nuts in, but they aren't an ingredient of that product, but a bit of nut dust may have floated across into the mixture.

[Hugh Robjohns]

As I understand it the chemical referred to in audio gear is lead in solder.

There hasn't been any lead in (most) electrical component solder since the very early 2000s -- almost twenty years. The EU banned it in 2006, but the ruling was introduced in 2002 and most companies switched over long before it became mandatory. Even though the USA hasn't banned leaded solders in electronics, it's effectively happened anyway because most manufacturers also sell into the EU and wouldn't run multiple production lines for leaded and lead-free soldering!

I believe the Californian health warning relates to various compounds used in the manufacture of most plastics. There's a full list here:

https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list

It is legal 'buck passing' on a monumental scale...

As long as you don't ingest or suck on your headphones (too often) I'm sure you'll be fine...

[Bob Bickerton]

The only thing I’m aware of that actually leads to cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm is copulation. I was once advised by a rather senior medical professional that life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.

I’ve seen that warning on brass tools made in the US because of lead content.

Bob

[ManFromGlass]

I’m surprised that there is anyone left alive or even somewhat healthy in California. There appears to be very little they can eat, wear, touch, breathe or look at safely.

[ConcertinaChap]

There hasn't been any lead in (most) electrical component solder since the very early 2000s -- almost twenty years. The EU banned it in 2006, but the ruling was introduced in 2002 and most companies switched over long before it became mandatory. Even though the USA hasn't banned leaded solders in electronics, it's effectively happened anyway because most manufacturers also sell into the EU and wouldn't run multiple production lines for leaded and lead-free soldering!

Thanks for that, Hugh. Good to know that, the issue for me not being one of poisoning myself with the headphones as what happens to lead in solder when end of life is reached for electronics.

I was once advised by a rather senior medical professional that life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.

No-one gets out of here alive.

CC