Rules and regulations create conditions for circuit boards used in electronic devices to fail early due to an effect of lead-free solder products, called "Tin Whiskers". Seriously! The new requirement for lead free solder uses alternatives that can develop shorts when metal migration causes a "Tin Whisker" to shoot out.
And there is no fix for it, except to reintroduce lead based solders. A lot of laws will need to be changed, or a lot of folks will have some very expensive paperweights over the next few years. Here is the scoop: Failure modes in newer electronic devices (PDF)
Remarkable how often the best of intentions to address a problem, when not well thought out, will create even more problems which are usually worse than the original problem.
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