Blood lead levels

[snuffy]

Based on my review of lead data and the interest in lead toxicity, I hate to say it guys, but expect cast lead bullet bans in the future. A couple of successful lead lawsuits against indoor ranges and you can expect they will either shut down, or require shooters to only use FMJ, jacketed, or copper plated bullets.

You can then expect that to follow to public or for profit outside ranges.

Good job! I was being sarcastic.

You've already turned some, that have read your links, away from using lead. Instead of cut & paste from government agencies, find something positive or neutral about shooting/casting lead.

We've become a society of fear about things that used to be common practice. I rode bikes all of my youth, never had a brain bucket on once. Did our heads suddenly become softer in the last 30 years?

I'm getting much closer to the end of my life. But fear mongering about that evil lead will probably result in some sort of ammo ban before I die. I've already seen lead shot banned, which lead to me having to give up duck hunting. Now they want to ban it for everything. California banned lead of any kind in ammo used in most of the state for hunting.

It wasn't fought by hunters because they didn't care----enough. The junk science that supported that ban was something to behold. They claimed that condors were getting lead poisoning by eating gut piles from game killed by hunters using lead cored rifle bullets. Most of us know that bullets almost always pass through the entrails, those that remain in the animal stop in the muscle mass to be taken home by the hunter.

 

[ggood]

Spoke to my doc again and said my reg blood count and all was ok so don't panic about lead levels. Will check into it in a month for followup and see if its going down. everything else ok. house came up with 3 out of ten swabs higher than it shoul be. should be forty.Reloading table read over 1000 and floor by table 86 even though you cant see any dust.Rest of house is from 41-less than 10. Will hepa vacuum the hell out of this place and wash down reloading table wearing gloves and filter mask. Feel better already.Tell you the truth I was in panic mode.Its time for housecleaning even though. house looks clean. To tell you the truth the epa which the lab notifys did not try to talk against shooting just to take the proper precautions. Thanks for all your help and hope some learned from my stupidity.

 

[Slamfire]

Spoke to my doc again and said my reg blood count and all was ok so don't panic about lead levels. Will check into it in a month for followup and see if its going down. everything else ok. house came up with 3 out of ten swabs higher than it shoul be. should be forty.Reloading table read over 1000 and floor by table 86 even though you cant see any dust.Rest of house is from 41-less than 10. Will hepa vacuum the hell out of this place and wash down reloading table wearing gloves and filter mask. Feel better already.Tell you the truth I was in panic mode.Its time for housecleaning even though. house looks clean. To tell you the truth the epa which the lab notifys did not try to talk against shooting just to take the proper precautions. Thanks for all your help and hope some learned from my stupidity.

Where did you get the swabs?

Do you cast at your reloading table or do you only seat bullets there?

I am curious to know because if the lead count is 1000 and all you are doing is loading and seating lead bullets, then I need to do something at my bench.

 

[kelbro]

That would be a good poll item. Everybody use the same tester, swab their benches and post up the numbers. Should prove enlightening as I haven't cleaned my bench off in 5 years and I cast off to the side of it.

 

[zxcvbob]

Do you cast at your reloading table or do you only seat bullets there?
I am curious to know because if the lead count is 1000 and all you are doing is loading and seating lead bullets, then I need to do something at my bench.

Probably spent-primer dust from decapping.

 

[ggood]

reload cast bullets and deprime. Also empty tumbler (closed type) put cases thru strainer and shake neat there. I have two dillons to work with on bench plus Lyman turret press.Washed down table today(table from dillon)and its like a hard pressed board but chemicals seemed to have seeped into table. Breakfree oil and whatever if I once in a blue moon cleaned a gun on the table. One thing ,everyone can do as they please but no dirty indoor ranges for me and only jacketed bullets.Forgot to answer your Question-I buy my cast bullets ,probably from tumbling and depriming and the bullets still sometimes wind up on table . Looking at the reloading presses after a while they get all cruddy from dust and Have had to wipe them off plenty of times.

 

[Pete D.]

lead...

Contrary to misinformation posted elsewhere in this thread, simply reducing your exposure to lead will reduce serum lead concentrations, i.e., the body does depurate lead, albeit rather slowly. Also, whether it's from lead styphnate priming compound or the lead bullets, indoor ranges are a major source of lead exposure and wearing an inexpensive respirator can reduce exposure significantly.

Absolutely. Lead will leach from the body at about 2-3 mcgs/dl per month if the source of contamination is stopped. This was told to me by a Doctor after I'd had my blood tested and it came back at 42mcg/dl. My own experience bears this out. I shot outdoors, stopped casting for a while, used plated bullets and my serum lead level came down at just that rate; after six months, it was in the low 20's. After a year, it was at 12.
(btw - when I do not do these things, my lead level rises.)
I have returned to casting and to indoor shooting. I cast outdoors - or "kinda" outdoors...in my garage with windows and the bay doors open. I wear a HEPA dust mask when there are more than a couple of shooters using the range indoors. I wash my hands immediately after shooting and my face also.
I have taken to keeping a canister of "D-lead" hand wipes on the table at the range for shooters to use when they finish.
I often wonder whether some of us are more susceptible to lead absorption than others. There are multiple examples of shooters who did the same things that I did and whose lead levels did not rise. In any case, lead poisoning is a real and dangerous problem and citing the personal fact that you have not had lead levels rise despite taking no precautions does not change that.
All one can say is "Good for you. Hope that your good fortune continues." And, yes, there are other problems that need our attention; yes, there are other causes of lead poisoning. Using either of those truths to imply that we should not concern ourselves with lead exposure is irresponsible.
Pete

 

[john16443]

I'm encouraged to hear of your experiences Pete D. My recent tests came back at high 40's, and I have voluntarlily sworn off all shooting and reloading activities for a 3 month period until I get rechecked in mid May. It will be a long Spring is all I'll say about that. I'm really hoping my drops will be at least what you've experienced. While I can't get away from shooting indoors, I will be doing things differently to say the least. I've also completely re-evaluated my reloading processes and have the next couple of months to change/buy some equipment to eliminate the potential for generating dust of any kind during the brass cleaning and depriming/loading phases. I don't cast, but have sworn off shooting lead, including FMJ with exposed lead bases. That's a personal choice that will result in slightly higher reloading costs, but Precision Bullets work well for me. If I can get below 20 after 6 months or so like you, and can continue a downward trend after that, I may decide to move back to lead bullets.

 

[ggood]

as to Slam Fire's question-I went to loews and bought 3M lead test tube at $25 dollars.Read alot and alot of controversy as to their accuracy and false reading. also they dont give values of lead just that its their. EPA said it is normal for some traces of lead to be on many floor etc but the question is how much.to hire lead consultant total $450.00. It was worth it. Now I can relax as I believe I cleaned up well and will take proper precautions when I get back to shooting and reloading. I will remember to change shoes and clothes also so I dont track stuff into my house and car if I can help it.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks for the updates, ggood.

 

[Hammerdown77]

I'm more concerned about lead from the glaze of some of the cheap coffee mugs made in China.

You know, this is a really good point. My blood lead levels were higher than I thought they should be, and when I looked at my coffee mugs many of them were painted and made in China.

Hmmm...