Lead contamination and our hobby.

[FireInTheHole]

What are the symptoms of adult lead poisoning?

Thx for the tip w/ the cold water... hmm.

 

[C. H. Luke]

We used to use Dermashield at my Clubs Indoor Range:

http://www.dermashieldusa.com/pages/709905/index.htm

Have had my blood level checked for lead.

a 'Smith working for S&W mentioned he could no longer
do testing on their Indoor Range as his blood level was
too high. This was however, after day on day testing after
months.........

 

[36fan]

What are the symptoms of adult lead poisoning?

From:
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/lead/health.htm

What health concerns are associated with lead contamination?

Lead poisoning is a particularly insidious public health threat because there may be no unique signs or symptoms. Early symptoms of lead exposure may include persistent fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, stomach discomfort, reduced attention span, insomnia, and constipation. Failure to treat lead poisoning in the early stages can cause long-term or permanent health damage, but because of the general nature of symptoms at early stages, lead poisoning is often not suspected.

In adults, lead poisoning can cause irritability, poor muscle coordination, and nerve damage to the sense organs and nerves controlling the body. It may cause increased blood pressure, hearing and vision impairment, and reproductive problems (e.g., decreased sperm count). It also can retard fetal development even at relatively low levels.

In children, lead poisoning can cause brain damage, mental retardation, behavioral problems, anemia, liver and kidney damage, hearing loss, hyperactivity, developmental delays, other physical and mental problems, and in extreme cases, death. Although the effects of lead exposure are a potential concern for all humans, young children (0 to 7 years old) are the most at risk. This increased vulnerability results from a combination of the following factors:

- Children typically have higher intake rates per unit body weight for environmental media (such as soil, dust, food, water, air, and paint) than adults, since they are more likely to play in dirt and put their hands and other objects in their mouths;

- Children tend to absorb a higher fraction of ingested lead from the gastrointestinal tract than adults;

- Children tend to be more susceptible than adults to the adverse neurological and developmental effects of lead; and

- Nutritional deficiencies of iron or calcium, which are prevalent in children, may facilitate lead absorption and exacerbate the toxic effects of lead.

The current blood lead level of concern in children is 10 micrograms (µg) of lead per deciliter (dL) of blood (10 µg/dL). However, since adverse effects may occur at lower levels than previously thought, various Federal agencies are considering whether this level should be lowered further.

 

[daniel (australia)]

We had a case here Australia, where the Police Service was prosecuted after firearms instructors working on indoor ranges were found to have elevated blood lead levels:

http://caselaw.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/isysquery/irl1ba4/15/doc

I had a lead expert as a witness in another case involving lead (this time not on firing ranges), and I had a chat with him about the question. According to him there are a number of sources of lead on a firing range, including the lead styphnate in the primers and lead atomised by the hot gases at the base of the bullet appearing in a plume at the muzzle, as well lead atomised at the stop butt and recirculated by inadequate ventilation, which may be inhaled. There's also lead from unjacketed and part-jacketed bullets, fired cases and in the firearm after use, which gets on the hands and may then be ingested. Lead is a cumulative poison and harmful not only to children and pregnant or lactating women, but to all.

Personally I prefer not to use indoor ranges, and I wash my hands carefully after shooting at the range and after reloading.

 

[106rr]

One source of lead not mentioned is smoking. Cigarette smoke actually contains lead. In addition smokers inhale deeply when they are taking a drag. If the ambient air in the area contains any lead it will be inhaled deeply into the lungs.
Most shooters wash their hands before eating but none of them will wash their hands before smoking. The lead salt (primer residue) contamination from the primers is transmitted directly to the mouth by smoking.
There are many factors affecting lead poisoning, smoking is one of many factors.

YMMV

 

[oldman]

So, what is the level of lead in blood that is considered harmful? Anyone with a guess? My blood lead level count was 35 about 5 years ago and my HMO primary physician didn't think that was something to worry about. But, get this. A fellow shooter (who is a federal marshal) was put on disability leave because his tested level was - 21! One range I was working at a long time ago, would put you on leave if you tested at or above 15. Seems like no-one can make up their mind as to what level is considered to be top end. BTW, EPA here has some funny rules about removing lead from the dirt down range. If you don't disturb it, it's ok even if it's a foot or more high. BUT, if you plan to shovel-move-disturb it, you're in big trouble unless you have a Haz-mat approved company do it. Even the ventilation filters have to be kept in Haz-mat approved containers until a approved company can come and get it. EVERY 6 months. Guess my years of shoveling lead and re-loading had finally caught up to me. Man, did SHTF when my family knew about my lead level.

 

[BamBam-31]

What about steel targets? I have a small revolving .22 steel target and a bigger 3/8" steel pistol target. Do these targets need to be cleaned off somehow before I store them back in my workshop/garage?