On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 12:32:45 +0000 (UTC), Jim H
wrote:

Since then all sorts of ignorant snake-oil claims have been made about
it.

True, but there are also valid resons for it's use. My solder contains
silver because I'd rather not take a lungfull of toxic lead fumes whenever
I need a new cable.

It contains a little silver as well as the usual amount of lead,
doesn't it?

Anyway, the fumes are from flux burning up. I doubt your iron is hot
enough to vaporise lead. Which would, indeed, make a bit of a mess
of your lungs :-)