Lead Dust - What am I missing?

[Mel1776]

I didn't know the lead tests kits were so reasonably priced. Consumer Reports says $8 - 30. Number of uses listed "2 - Many". Headed to Lowe's today.
I hand load quite a bit during winter months, shoot outdoors couple times a month.
My first blood test for lead was last year (11). Awaiting the results of last week's test.
My grandchildren help me handload and have for some years. We have and use the D-Lead and D-Wipe products in the loading room and at the range.

 

[Dr_B]

With a newborn in the house, my wife insisted I stop reloading to prevent our son from being exposed to lead dust.

I've been in your situation. A lot of mothers with newborns instantly turn into germ-a-phobes and are super vigilant about the child's safety at the expense of logic. My wife turned into a different person once our daughter was born. I wonder sometimes how I made it to adulthood, given the fact that my own mother allowed me to go outside without sunscreen, drink water from the garden hose, touch door handles when in public, ride in the back of our pickup truck, and even go hunting with my uncle.

 

[Patocazador]

Dr B:
My brother and I grew up when my mother was divorced and had to work 2 jobs so we were responsible for cleaning the house. You can imagine how ineffective we were.
When she remarried and had more children, she stayed home and turned into a dirt freak. The 2 youngest kids have some crazy syndrome that the doctors say is due to NOT being exposed to enough germs while their immune systems were developing.

Whatever doesn't kills us, makes us stronger.

 

[1KPerDay]

Germs are one thing... toxic heavy metals are another. You don't develop antibodies or immunity to the latter. No reason not to be careful with youngins around.

 

[asm_]

Wow, gauging from the replies in this thread, I suppose I shouldn't tell you that I let my 5 years old help me reload. She love watching the progressive press does its work.

Needless to say, she also know she must wash her hand after she touch anything that has anything to do with firearm. She also knows better not do go near by the tumbler. Did you know the most efficient way to take in lead is by breathing in lead dust? If I remember correctly, our body retain something like 90% of lead particle when its introduce thru lung.

Just use common sense, take necessary precaution. No is no need to stop reloading altogether.

B

 

[orionengnr]

When I started reloading and the collateral duties that go with it (collecting, sorting, tumbling brass, etc.) I asked my doc to add the lead test to my annual battery of blood tests.

FYI, this also includes shooting at an indoor range once a week or so. It has been about five years now and I have never come up above 10.

Lead exposure has the potential to be an issue, but if you take reasonable precautions, it is a negligible one.

Couple of weeks ago I was in an Office Depot looking for eraser refills. Two women nearby were looking at the mechanical pencils and 'lead" refills, cluck-clucking about how terrible it was the "they" sell "lead" in the store. I just shook my head and walked away. The unreasoned panic that the MSM spreads daily is amazing...and the ignorance of the public moreso.

Now I just have to wait for New York State to make the possession of more than 5 lbs of lead illegal, or to pass some other asinine law to punish law-abiding gun owners.

I don't think you will be waiting long. Between Cuomo and Bloomberg, count on it.

 

[toiville2feathers]

If you have copper plumbing in your house there is a good chance that the connections were soldered together with solder containing lead. If you have city water and the water tower is old there is a good chance that the inside of the tower was coated with lead paint.
As you charge a lead acid battery in your car, boat or lawn mower it gives off a lead acid gas. If you have a house full of antiques there a good chance of lead being present. If you have old artwork there is a good chance it has lead in the paint.
Point of story; lead is everywhere and it is correct to be vigilant. To be truly vigilant you need to know where all the sources of lead are.

 

[Catpop]

Kudos on all the advice. WASH YOUR HANDS after each session with the guns---at the range, at the reloading bench, at the tumbler, handling lead (or fishing sinkers), etc. Do not have snacks or drinks at the reloading bench or tumbler area----

 

[dickttx]

Wash your hands after handling lead (or going to the bathroom, or doctoring the horses, or petting your dog or cat, etc) and don't check your gas tank with a match. All pretty sensible procedures.