We phased out leaded gas decades ago.
The copper can also can tune your chakras and cure your arthritis.
you jest, but copper does actually have anti-microbial properties.
It is added not to make the job of a few easier it is to enable the manufacture of the product. If you notice the groves on the side of the key those are machined, and the entire blank is punched from a sheet.
They are working on replacing it in all brass products but most of the Si alternatives tend to increase brittleness. The key industry is under some limitations that make it difficult to increase the thickness of the metal to work around that issue and talking consumers into replacing their locks and using thicker keys is not an easy task.
It was added and machining techniques were designed way before the health effects were known but for normal users the risk is fairly easy to mitigate by simply washing your hands before eating if there is a concern. And obviously they should not be given to young children as toys.
If lead is a primary concern faucets and water fountains and bath fixtures have a higher probably of being a significant source of exposure.
Even the lead-free ones will have up to 0.25% by weight.
Which is what key grinders do. Which is, I assume, a useful reason for labeling, I see shops using ecnlosed units now, which is probably a good idea. Or you can buy aluminium keys.
I miss real-radium watches. I understand that it was a health hazord for manufacturers, but I’ve never heard it was a particular health hazard for watch-wearers. And I’ve never had a non-radioactive flourescent watch that worked well enough so that I can actually read the time in the morning.
More than that, it’s to enable relatively inexpensive machining of brass- which is used for all sorts of things- keys, plumbing fixtures, etc…
I mean, you could take the lead out, but you’d make the machining considerably more difficult and raise the prices of everything that involves machined brass by quite a bit.
Locksmithing is apparently not one of the at-risk professions for lead poisoning. Though it is a serious issue for gunsmiths and firing range employees.
Thank you for this insight … I can see why we don’t want keys breaking off in the lockset …
Because I used to handle lead on a daily basis, I got my blood tested regularly. Nothing ever showed up, but it was well worth the peace of mind. Plus I’m pretty sure insurance covered it.
Brass is a metal alloy made of copper and zinc. No lead is necessary.
Back in the day (60’s-70’s anyway), the car/house keys were often given to babies to play with. It wasn’t obvious then. Maybe that’s part of the reason for the warning.
Read the thread. Lead is commonly added to many different subtypes of brass for legitimate reasons.
I did. I dont deny that brass can contain lead, but "Keys are made from brass. Brass contains contains lead. " is incorrect. Brass keys can contain lead, because they are not a pure brass alloy.
I have seen parents let their babies play with their car and houses while shopping and babies loves to put everything in their mouths. I am like :eek: b/c the keys are also dirty .
Toddlers playing with keys and inevitably there will be a wall socket involved.
ETA: Reread the OP … “May be harmful if eaten” … what the hell?
Also, softwer keys wear the locks less than hard keys. At the institution where I cut keys, (long ago) we always bought the softer key blanks. The keys had to be replaced more often – the door locks, less often.
There is potential for significant exposure to harmful exposure to lead in routine key handling.
https://vhcb.org/our-programs/healthy-lead-safe-homes/lead-poisoning-prevention/lead-in-keys
Radium isn’t the only option for glowing watches. Nowadays, they use tritium. It doesn’t last as long (half-life of 20ish years), but it’s apparently easier to work with.
When Caltrans buys additional land to widen highways, the soil near the highway must first be tested for lead contamination from car exhaust. It’s part of the environmental clearance before the purchase can be completed.