Lead Exposure Raises Cataracts Risk in Men

[PinnedAndRecessed]

From fox: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,140816,00.html

Lead exposure (search) may increase the risk of cataracts (search), especially for men, a new study shows.

Despite public health efforts to cut lead in gasoline, paint, and other sources in the environment, lead exposure continues to pose a significant problem, writes researcher Debra A. Schaumberg, ScD, MPH, with the preventive medicine division at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

In fact, “most adults continue to have substantial body burdens of lead,†she writes in her report. It appears in this week’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

More than 90 percent of the total body burden of lead is accumulated in the bones, where it is stored. Lead stays in bones for up to 10 years where it can be slowly released and can affect other organs. Although over time, lead naturally becomes inert (harmless) to some extent, lead that remains will circulate through the bloodstream, Schaumberg explains.

Much evidence has indicated that accumulated lead exposure increases the risk of several chronic disorders, including hypertension and mental decline. As with other pollutants and toxins, the cell damage comes from unstable radicals created by lead exposure.

Studies have also shown that lead exposure could cause age-related cataracts, the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment worldwide, writes Schaumberg.

 

[joebogey]

Depending on shot placement, it can put an end to all those maladies as well.

 

[LawDog]

I see an awful lot of 'mays' and 'coulds' in that report.

LawDog

 

[otomik]

I've thought about wearing breathing protection to the range (you know like those breathing masks people wear to avoid SARS). Does anybody do that?

 

[hso]

The problem with this article is that it's using information from an issue of Opthamalic Review, several times removed. The study was a small population study and is considered an indicator that more study is warranted. There are several instances where the popular (read - nontechnical) press have overstated it's significance.

 

[rritter]

In fact, “most adults continue to have substantial body burdens of lead,†she writes in her report. It appears in this week’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Ah-ha! That's why I keep getting heavier!

 

[rl2669]

A few years ago...

I recall congress debating a rule to reduce lead exposure - it included a provision to eliminate lead from bullets and shot. Of course these were the Clinton years.

Someone wisely pointed out that they better cease and desist unless they wanted to see the entire electronics manufacturing industry migrate overseas, that which already hasn't anyway. Lead is a key component of solder...

But, lead is indeed bad for you. I've known a couple of shooters who had to take time off from too much range time. Best to get tested if you think yourself to be at risk. Casting your own bullets is probably IMHO the highest risk factor, being a range officer is up there too.

 

[Kingcreek]

There are other toxic metals also, such as mercury and cadmium and aluminum. They are not easy to test for with certainty because of the way the body stores and releases them. There are ways to stimulate the release of these from the body but even that needs to be done with caution.
Most vaccines still contain methyl mercury and/or aluminum salts.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I see an awful lot of 'mays' and 'coulds' in that report.

Yep. It's possible keeping and bearing arms causes a higher incidence of cancer of the toe nails. Further study—not to mention federal funding—is needed.

 

[larryf1952]

Lead is a key component of solder...

I guess I'm just hosed...I love to shoot, I reload, and I've been installing and repairing electronic equipment for 30 years...LOTS of soldering.

 

[Jayman]

OTOMIK: I wear a respirator when I shoot at my local indoor range. I didn't for a long time and my lead count was high, like 38, I think... I started wearing a respirator and it dropped back down to 19. Hopefully next test will be even lower.

 

[hso]

Jayman,

If your lead levels dropped after using a respirator, and that was the only change in possible exposures, you need to tell the range. Such a change is an indication that their ventelation systems are not working properly. If they do not seem responsive then point out that if your exposures are high then their employee exposure could be as well and that OSHA fines suck, but worse is the lost business from customers refusing to allow someone they pay for a safe shooting environment to put them at risk.

 

[Dead]

Breathing raises the risk of lung cancer... Everything is bad for us, "nothing" is healthly


Oh I beleive that OSHA lead levels are >=40 or OSHA reportables for adults anyway.. The state that I live in wants EVERY SINGLE lead test reported regardless of result. (>=10 mcg/dL is to be reported "by rapid means" for children)

 

[Jayman]

HSO: Oh, they know there is an issue. One of their employees was in a bad way because of the problem. They claim they'll "get around to fixing it," and all that. I don't care, I just wear the respirator. I'd shoot someplace else, but they are SUPER close to me, so the additional irritation is worthwhile to me.

I know a lot of people shoot there without any sort of respiration filtration though, and a few of them do it a lot. I tell a lot of people to watch their lead levels, but I have yet to see or hear about a single individual even bothering to get checked out.

Oh well...

 

[TimH]

As long as it doesn't make me impotent