Heavy metal and the shooting sports

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shooter429

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Metallica rocks, but that is actually not the kind of metal I am interested in.

I was watching a forensic science show about a guy who was poisened to death with heavy metals. Then I got to thinking about how I routinely handle Pb, Hg, Cd, Sn, Ni, Cu, Bi etc. in both solid, liquid, and vapor/smoke forms with bare skin etc. I quit eating at the loading bench. But what is the risk associated with these substance to the average competitor/sportsmen? Aside from neurological disorders, what else do they do to the body? Any M.D.s on the board? It would be good to hear your opinion (general info, not specific to any person of course).

Any other elements that I don't have in my list that are highly toxic?

Anybody ever been tested to check these levels?

Everybody, pitch in so we have meaningful info to pass around to other shooters.

Thanks

Shooter429
 
Risks are negligible if you shoot out doors. If you shoot indoors often, your risk from inhaling lead particles is a bit higher, but still pretty low overall as long as you wash your hands thoroughly before eating afterwards.
 
I reload. I also bite my nails. And I even *gasp* drink beer while reloading [1].

Last time I got blood drawn, I had them test for everything, including lead, copper, and mercury. Clean.

[1] For the nannys here: if it blows up, I will lay claim to all the pieces I can find. Deal.
 
Us OLD guys get a good chuckle out of these things.:):)

I used lead on my cars, asbestos in all the insulation, asbestos tape on the headers, lead in the paint, and of course we played outside everyday, rode bikes with out helmets etc, etc, etc.

Oh yeah, I lived a lot longer that anyone expected. Raced cars, Motorcycles, tried most of the things going around in the 60's. :evil:
 
Have a guy here at work who shot in what I would call rather poorly ventilated indoor range. He had some odd problems and got tested and they found he had a very high level of lead. Really put him off shooting...it was a new thing for him that he'd recently taken up. He also fishes a lot (that is really his thing) and of course that can be a source of metals too.

At any rate, he stopped going to that range and it cleared up. He was pretty overweight and he was loosing a lot of weight during that time as well...on purpose...and sometimes loosing fat can throw chemicals that were in the fat into the blood.

At any rate, this is at least one case where the correlation between indoor shooting and high lead level exists. I shoot there only when I get a new gun and need to test it out.

If I can ever manage to get my wife to make up with her parents :confused: I'll have my outdoor, 100% free shooting range back :)
 
Metallica rocks, but that is actually not the kind of metal I am interested in.
Click to expand...

You sir are sadly mistaken. Metallica is simply the last of the great hair bands. Thusly they most assuredly do not rock. Except for when they preform others music al la "garage inc"

Clutch rocks
 
chronic exposure can result in a retention toxicity where heavy metals can become tissue bound and blood levels obviously only measures blood. some heavy metals have an affinity to certain tissue, bone, fat, nerve, etc. Chelating agents can cause a release of these toxins at varying rates. lots of junk amature advice out there and a lot is still poorly understood.
I would suggest use caution and limit exposure as much as possible.
 
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