Indoor ranges > Cause Health Problems?

[msimonds]

Every time I go to the local indoor range and fire either my pistols or my AR-15, I seem to really have a nose full of gun powder. I mean it is worse as long as I stay at the range.

Are indoor ranges required to meet some sort of basic filtration system or something like that?

Has anyone reported long term health problems from working at or continuing to go to an indoor range?

Can we ask to see some sort of log on their filtration system checks?

This is not any sort of personal attack against indoor ranges, just wanted to get an idea here!

 

[10-Ring]

As I understand it, indoor ranges have EPA filtration requirements to meet.

 

[thedpp]

Let em know...there is supposed to be ventilation and filtration systems installed on all in door ranges

 

[hso]

We've had extensive discussions on airborne lead issues. A search will bring them up.

WRT your questions -

Are indoor ranges required to meet some sort of basic filtration system or something like that?

No

Has anyone reported long term health problems from working at or continuing to go to an indoor range?

Working, yes; competetive shooters, yes; recreational shooters, not that I'm aware of.

Can we ask to see some sort of log on their filtration system checks?

You can ask, but it won't do any good. They're under no obligation to show them to you and the person you ask probably won't even know where to find them. It's also not relevant. What you want to know is whether they conduct lead air sampling inside the range and what the results have been. You'll need to adjust the numbers to reflect your time on the range as opposed to the 8-hr. time weighted average the numbers will be expressed in.(If you're on the range for as much as 2 hrs a 40ppm (8hr TWA) range air concentration would be functionally equivalent to 1/4 the 40ppm.)

 

[K-Romulus]

rec shooter = yes

There is an Australian study of a guy who shot both outdoor and indoor, pretty sporadically, and he had elevated blood levels. I have a PDF copy somewhere and will dig it up later tonight.

A search for "lead poisoning" will keep you busy until then.

 

[aerod1]

I see some potential health problems if you shoot indoors very often, but for the caual shooter I really don't see a problem. Of course I am not an expert in this field.
You don't really have to shoot there. If I was worried about it, I would go some where else to shoot.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

The "good" thing about acute and/or chronic lead poisoning is that it your body will metabolize the Pb out of your system once removed from the source.

However, long-term chronic exposure can cause damage that won't be repaired.

-J-

 

[hso]

The "good" thing about acute and/or chronic lead poisoning is that it your body will metabolize the Pb out of your system once removed from the source.

That process takes years.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Here is an absolutely FANTASTIC article on the subject!

http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/msds/lead.html

 

[msimonds]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, i appreciate it!

 

[hnk45acp]

the basics of lead levels
Ask your doctor to do a blood test (zpp) for lead levels
very low to no exposure 3-9 points. Children/Infants should be around 3 points
low to some exposure 10-15
"acceptable" exposure for adults that work with lead ie: shooters, glaziers etc 16-25 points.
25 or more is considered very high levels of exposure.

tip 1. Wear a mask. I did and my number went from 30 to 16 in 4 months from shooting in an indoor range.

tip2. Make sure you keep shooting clothes and bags away from kids/infants. You will bring lead back with you on your clothes.

tip3. Try to shoot completely jacketed or lead free ammo.

tip4. if you reload try to use lead free primers and completely jacketed or lead free bullets. Rainier makes some good stuff