Goldpoint SA4M-47 passive 'preamp' winging its way to Marco Towers...

[awkwardbydesign]

Fancy tackling my post earlier post, Kevin (#205)?

Marco.

Pardon my ignorance, but which one is Kevin?

[Marco]

CageyH. There are first names clearly visible on everyone's posts

Marco.

[Marco]

I think that the COSHH legislation is designed (!) mainly to protect workers who are exposed to dangerous substances in large amounts, and disposal of same, either landfill or incineration. Where lead in solder is concerned, for example, medical and military equipment have exemptions. Because it makes equipment less reliable! Anyway, leaded solder is readily available, and making stained glass windows (for one example) uses large amounts of the stuff. Regular blood tests are recommended for workers.
Day to day use of many substances poses minimal health risks.

I completely get that, if you're working with and handling the stuff, but how can a hi-fi enthusiast, using an LDR preamp in his or her system, in the course of listening to music, be subjected to the same dangers, as long as they don't go poking around where they shouldn't?

Without a satisfactory and unequivocal answer to that, I'm afraid that the negativity bring shown towards the use of LDR preamps is just plain and simple scaremongering, mainly by those with an obvious commercial agenda.

Marco.

[struth]

Dare say they could spontaneously combust due to the huge voltages involved

[CageyH]

I don't doubt for a second that it's nasty stuff, but it's only nasty if you misuse it in some way.

Explain to me, how in the normal course of using an LDR preamp, to play music in a hi-fi system, as long as you don't tamper with the internals of the device, you can die or become badly poisoned?

Marco.

If you get an internal component failure for whatever reason, that causes the LDR to "burst" it will release Cadmium fumes. Components are known to fail. They just have different MTBFs.
It does not take much to kill an adult, and much less for a small child/infant. Traces of Cadmium are sufficient.
Chances of it happening statistically will be slim, but there is still a chance. Not one I will take.

overexposures may occur even in situations where trace quantities of cadmium are found

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_poisoning Decide if you want to risk going through this.

I don't.

I just wanted to make people aware of the risk. It's completely up to them if they choose an LDR preamp, as they are not yet totally illegal, but they may well become in a few years. I don't think you can purchase a commercially assembled LDR in Europe, and that is for a reason. I think I have rattled on enough about the dangers of cadmium for now, so will post no more on this matter.

It has nothing to do with being brainwashed elsewhere. More to do with working with materials and treatments on a daily basis.

[awkwardbydesign]

CageyH. There are first names clearly visible on everyone's posts

Marco.

Ah yes, under the line at the bottom. I was looking at the top right.
And on the subject of dangers, I ride motorbikes. On racetracks. Should definitely be banned.

[Marco]

From your Wiki link:

Cigarettes are also a significant source of cadmium exposure. Although there is generally less cadmium in tobacco than in food, the lungs absorb cadmium more efficiently than the stomach

With billions of smokers around the world, poisoning the air with cadmium, it's a wonder we're not all dead by now!

And what about the stuff that's in our food? If ingesting cadmium is more dangerous than inhaling it, then why are people not dying every day from the effects of cadmium ingestion?

I understand and appreciate where you're coming from, but I'm afraid that until I see some clear evidence, and statistics showing the likelihood of an LDR preamp to 'burst', in the way you describe, I'll continue to consider using them.

Marco (not one of life's 'worriers' or a panic merchant)

[Marco]

And on the subject of dangers, I ride motorbikes. On racetracks. Should definitely be banned.

You're a very bad boy with a dangerous death wish. Tut, tut for wanting some excitement in your life!

Best enjoy it now before you succumb to the forthcoming cadmium leakage epidemic!!! Escape, people, while you still can.........

Marco.

[awkwardbydesign]

Let's hope a fluorescent light doesn't burst! A much more serious danger than an LDR.

[CageyH]

It's in the text you quoted.

I hope you enjoy your LDR preamp, but it will have to go some to beat your Croft from what I have read.

Out of interest, how much Cadmium is in an LDR? I have no idea, but there are plenty of alternative products that sound good.
Various flavours of passives and of active preamps are available without the need to use a soon to be banned substance.

As I said, I just wanted to highlight the dangers. It's up to each individual if they deem it an acceptable risk. If you do, buy one while you still can, but bear in mind selling it on in a few years time may not be legal.