Hi,

I know this is an old post but I have a related question (not sure if I should open another thread for this).
Some time ago, by mistake, I managed to burn two 5mm LED's (one red and one green, connected to 5V without current limiting). There was some smoke and I smelled a weird burnt smell. It is possible that the toxic gases were released from the epoxy enclosure? I read that some of the gases contained in the LED's are carcinogenic. Should I be concerned for my health?

Thank you.

 

Yep, you should open another thread if in doubt.

You should be concerned, but don't get ridiculous about it. Gallium Arsenide are both extremely toxic (gallium and arsenic), but what you were smelling was probably epoxy. Still not something you want to ingest, I am sure.

The amount of epoxy is very large compared to the innards though.

 

Thank you,
I do hope that it was only the epoxy smell .
I think that burning LED's are a common beginner mistakes, and probably everybody burnt at leas one LED at some point. Maybe I won't be so unlucky to get intoxicated with Gallium Arsenide (by accidentally smelling the burnt LEDs).

 

The odds of you penetrating the plastic are pretty slim. I suspect fire would be involved. Before that would happen the little wire inside the device, that connects one of the leads to it, would simply fuse open.

Among other things the AAC book shows the construction of 5mm LEDs, Which I suspect you would probably find interesting.

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_3/12.html

It is about ¼ the way down the chapter.

 

Hello,

There are a lot of toxic materials in electronics.
Read this PDF for more info:
Dangerous chemicals in electronics products.

This comes from this greenpeace site:
http://www.greenpeace.org/internati...e-waste-problem/what-s-in-electronic-devices/

Bertus

 

never knew leds could be unless the plastic was burned but capacitors (electrolitics), lithium batteries, mercury switches, lead solder, lead.