Lead posioning

[Kokopelli]

How many here get their serum lead levels check regularly? I would be interesting to have the levels plotted against "types" of shooters. Ron

[anthony1]

l dont do it regularly but l had mine done a year ago to help ease some kids who had to have it done through the finger pricking part. l was lower than average, l shoot a fair amount and reload. l never shoot indoors though, that might matter ldk.

[Kokopelli]

l dont do it regularly but l had mine done a year ago to help ease some kids who had to have it done through the finger pricking part. l was lower than average, l shoot a fair amount and reload. l never shoot indoors though, that might matter ldk.

A number of guys on the 1911 forums have been tested high. They seem to think handling and recycling fired brass is the culprit, but don't really know. Indoor shooting has been suggested as well. Ingestion is the method of intake and apparently the source is the primers. Memory loss is one of the telltale signs and a lot of us older guys have problems with that. I intend to have my levels checked on my next MD visit..

What I'm looking for is of those that test, what type of exposure do they have. Shooting indoor/outdoors, reloading, casting, etc.. Ron

[xrayoneone]

My lead levels have been checked yearly and each time I have been under 4 (I can't remember if it is ppml or what, I'll get back to you). Regardless it is well below standard.

I reload, tumble brass, on the range for 8 hours at a time 3-4 times a month, indoor range about two hours once or twice a month.

I usually wash my hands in COLD water before I eat. When I get home I take my boots and clothes off outside and leave them hanging up to air out, then into the washing machine. I also go into the shower first thing when I get home.

[Kokopelli]

My lead levels have been checked yearly and each time I have been under 4 (I can't remember if it is ppml or what, I'll get back to you). Regardless it is well below standard.

I reload, tumble brass, on the range for 8 hours at a time 3-4 times a month, indoor range about two hours once or twice a month.

I usually wash my hands in COLD water before I eat. When I get home I take my boots and clothes off outside and leave them hanging up to air out, then into the washing machine. I also go into the shower first thing when I get home.

Thanks for the reply.. That's the sort of info I'm looking for.. I don't reload (just shoot) and haven't been diligent about changing clothes, etc.. Ron

[Zhurdan]

My levels are well under the norm and I get tested every year. Indoor shooting in a range that doesn't have top notch ventilation can be dangerous, but I'm pretty sure that it's regulated by law.

If you reload, please keep in mind that when you clean your brass via a tumbler and media, do so in an area that has good circulation that DOES NOT stay in the home. I tumble my brass in the garage with the door open so as not to have lead particles landing on everything.

Also, wear gloves (surgical) when handling primers and dirty brass if possible. I had a friend who ended up with all kinds of problems and died last year. His lead levels were off the charts when they found the cancer that ultimately killed him. He was a range officer at a local indoor range. Not certain that's the reason, but it kind of woke me up to just how much crap you can come into contact with while shooting.

[Ttwwaack]

I asked the doctor for it annually during my physical due to my work. I've averaged 7-9 for the past 15 years without exposure from work and have tested over 50 on several occassions due to work.

During that period of time I have reloaded pistol, rifle and shotgun. In the early 90's I was reloading 50K or shotgun per year. I generally try to load with jacketed bullets except for 45 ACP which are 200 & 230 HC by someone else. I generally shoot outdoors and if shooting indoors (3 x in past 10 years) I note the cleanlyness and ventilation of the facility prior to shooting. I used to shoot alot when I was stationed in MD during the winter months at indoor facilities.

I'm a steel painter by trade and occassionally run into red lead removal during surface prep/sand blasting. Once it is discovered there is a whole shitpot full of OSHA and EPA regulations that apply from containment, enviromental controls and monitoring to employee surveilance (medical and enviromental monitoring). When I say lead paint, I'm not referring to the old oil base enamals used in commercial an residential paint that had lead add for color retention, I'm talking about about the orange to flourescent orange primer used on steel structures generally manufactured prior 1978.

The biggest exposures have been covered already except for casting bullets and fishing lures and cutting scap steel with red lead primer on it. Personal hygiene and not smoking, eating or drinking while 'dirty' are the best ways to stay low. Most lead is ingested due to the above three no-nos.

Indoor ranges are an animal of their own. Had a friend back in the 80's get dosed so bad he started having problems and had to undergo chelation treatments which helped some but he was pretty well poisoned. The range ended up getting closed down.

[WillBrink]

How many here get their serum lead levels check regularly? I would be interesting to have the levels plotted against "types" of shooters. Ron

Had it checked a while back when I was doing my highest level of shooting, and I was below normal. I forget the specific number. Your post reminds me I should get that checked again some time, but my volume of shooting is way down from what it was a few years ago, and have done very little indoor shooting in the past year or so, and don't reload.

[Texas42]

"below normal"

Kind of funny when you put it that way, considering it should be zero. : )

But seriously, unless you've had high levels once, and nothing else changes (no other reason on problems) its probably a waste to get it checked anually.

[WillBrink]

"below normal"

Kind of funny when you put it that way, considering it should be zero. : )
.

Less than 20 micrograms/dL of lead in the blood in adults is what you want to see as "normal" but exposure to lead exists in modern society, so zero may not be common I recall. Some studies suggest below 10 micrograms/dL is recommended.

"Data for the study came from nearly 14,000 adults who had their blood lead levels checked between 1988 and 1994 for government health studies.Their average blood lead level was 2.58 mcg/dL.Those with higher blood lead levels were more likely to be older, black or Mexican American, male, and smokers."