Lead test after stopping using vibrating case cleaner

[sbwaters]

Last year I was tested for lead and it was 15. Should be below 10. Removed the dusty vibrating case cleaner from my bench and started using wet tumbler with stainless pins.

A year later my lead test is below 10.

Advice: Put your vibrating cleaner outside or switch to a wet tumbler.

 

[GBExpat]

Were you using your VCC with a sealed/closed top?

 

[sbwaters]

Closed top, but the top had narrow slits in it.

When it stopped, I would sift through the media to find the cases and that would raise a little dust, too.

I was just foolish to put it on the end of my reloading bench.

 

[Havok7416]

I use a respirator when I'm working with the tumbler/media. If nothing else it keeps me from inhaling walnut dust, but I figure it helps with lead too. I plan on getting my lead levels tested soon to establish a baseline.

 

[rskent]

I think people are affected differently. Several years ago I worried because I was tumbling inside with just a rag over the top of my tumbler. Without a cover it takes less than half the time to finish the cleaning process. I assume the bowl vibrates more with the lid not screwed down.

Anyway, tested less than one.

I’m not saying it’s cool to do, and now I use a cover. But I still tumble inside. As far as sifting out the brass, I bought a RCBS sifter tumbler thingy. It cleans the media out of cases so fast. Even 223’s. It speeds things up and keeps my hands clean too. It is the best reloading tool I have picked up in years.

 

[GBExpat]

Closed top, but the top had narrow slits in it....

An open "sifting lid" as I suspected.

My first VCC, a Hornady, came with both sifting lid and a solid. Quite frankly, when I first read of people running VCCs, indoors, without a solid lid I was floored.

At the time, I wasn't considering the potential for lead but the huge amounts of very fine dust that that would inject into the environment ... to be caught up in the airflow and circulated (and deposited) throughout the house by the HVAC system.

I always use my VCCs indoors with closed lids and separate with a closed RCBS separator ... while I have a sealed-motor HEPA vac running to the side.

 

[LiveLife]

When my blood lead level went from 8 to 12, my doctor got concerned along with public health department (I guess lab had to report lead levels higher than 10). I was doing a lot of indoor shooting with lead loads at that time and I volunteered to stop shooting indoors even though the indoor range had great one directional ventilation (felt like 20 MPH wind) and filtration for exhaust air. I also picked up brass off indoor range floor. Who knew breathing with your face close to range floor inhaling lead dust would increase blood lead level? .

After not shooting indoors for three months but continuing with other shooting/reloading activities (outlined in the linked post), my lead level returned to normal - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ealth-information.307170/page-12#post-9625420

In the end, my doctor and I deemed inhaling lead dust while shooting indoors and picking up brass off range floor were the culprit for my blood lead level increase as cautioned by 4/25/14 CDC report on indoor ranges - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ealth-information.307170/page-10#post-9616073

... this report document serious lead exposure from indoor firing ranges ... BLLs should be kept below 10 µg/dL for all adults, and below 5 µg/dL for children and pregnant women.

The findings in this report also suggest that firing range customers and family members of firing range employees, in addition to employees themselves, can be exposed to hazardous amounts of lead.

... The number of persons with elevated BLLs from firearms use during 2011–2012 highlights the need to increase prevention activities. Airborne and surface lead levels in firing ranges can be greatly reduced by using lead-free bullets, improving ventilation systems, using wet mopping or HEPA vacuuming instead of dry sweeping, and having a written protocol for range maintenance.

If you shoot indoors, using plated/coated lead bullets is not enough to prevent lead exposure, especially if you pick up brass from range floor. If I were to shoot indoors again, I would wear a respirator with filter rated for lead particles while picking up brass.

If you have any doubt, get yourself some lead test kits and see where the source of lead particles is from. You may be surprised.

 

[Allen One1]

Revelation 19:11
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

Thanks bds

 

[sbwaters]

I wonder how picking up range brass with a rat cage would help keep the nose away from settling lead dust.

Oh, and consider one of the lead removal hand cleaners after handling spent brass.

[FWIW: As a teen I worked in a hot metal newspaper composing room and as a pre-teen we molded hundreds of toy soldiers. Managed to survive into adulthood and into my 70s. It was reloading that increased lead levels, but the exposure is manageable.]

 

[LiveLife]

Revelation 19:11 ... Thanks bds

You are very welcome.

 

[JeffG]

Last year I was tested for lead and it was 15. Should be below 10. Removed the dusty vibrating case cleaner from my bench and started using wet tumbler with stainless pins.

A year later my lead test is below 10.

Advice: Put your vibrating cleaner outside or switch to a wet tumbler.

*Use disposable nitrile gloves, a simple dust mask while sorting and transferring used media, and store your tumbling media in sealed jars, buckets, or heavy plastic ziploc bags.

 

[LiveLife]

a simple dust mask while sorting and transferring used media

No. Not even N95 masks don't offer good protection due to lack of tight seal around the nose (I found this out while painting my house decades ago and sides of my nose were white ). If all you got is dust mask/paper respirator, use tape around the nose part to make a tight seal (I use blue painting tape).

Respirators offer tight seal around the nose and prevent inhalation of lead dust/particles. At under $17 shipped, it's cheap insurance - https://www.amazon.com/3M-Facepiece...pID=41J7eFCI06L&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[H&R Glock]

I'm confused....... If I'm tumbling brass with my vibratory machine, where does the lead come from?

X-Navy man

 

[JeffG]

This is an article I copied from USA Carry, not with the intent to make the material my own, but to insure the information is accurate as I can manage to show it here...

Recognize Risks and Hazards

Lead is an element, so it doesn’t degrade or become less toxic over time. Chronic lead poisoning is associated with long term exposure, is a function of absorption over time, and is affected by a person’s age, diet, health, and metabolic rate. A high percentage of lead (some say up to 90%) found in bone mass is insoluble and does not present a major hazard, according to some medical professionals.The majority of ammunition uses lead sulfuric primers and bullets made of lead. Even jacketed ammo typically have a little exposed lead at the base of the bullet. When the ammunition is fired the lead from the bullets, along with the lead and other chemicals in the primers, are vaporized and can be inhaled by the shooter. Lead escaping from unjacketed bullets shot down the barrel, lead vaporized from the bullet into fumes and fine particles, and lead from the burned primer travel within about a five-foot radius of the shooter and bystanders. This residue is in the air we breathe around us and it settles and is absorbed into our clothes, skin, hair, gun, glasses, ear protectors, holster, pouch, and everything around us. The inhaled and absorbed lead enters our bloodstream and is distributed throughout our body. If lead residue enters our mouth, it can be ingested and absorbed in our digestive system. In 2011, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) mentioned in one California range study that shooting in an open outdoor range with natural ventilation may allow more dissipation of lead, more air flow and lead dispersed, and help minimize exposure, inhalation, etc. Generally, the better the ventilation and air flow the less the risk of lead poisoning. Airborne lead dust can settle on the ceiling, walls, floor, ground and other surfaces. However, recognize that some indoor ranges use modern ventilation technology, High Energy Particulate (HEPA) cleaning systems, filtered air, and controls to lower lead dust and exposure. “The issue of lead problems for indoor ranges is extremely rare,” said Susan Recce, an NRA official.

 

[JSH1]

I'm confused....... If I'm tumbling brass with my vibratory machine, where does the lead come from?

X-Navy man

There is lead residue left inside the case from the bullet.

 

[LiveLife]

“The issue of lead problems for indoor ranges is extremely rare,” said Susan Recce, an NRA official.

We have many members who have tested higher than acceptable (greater than 10) blood lead levels from shooting indoors. Mine increased to 8 then 12 and dropped to normal simply by not shooting at indoor range I was shooting at for 3 months. I can't call this coincidence, especially when other members experienced similar results.

Perhaps these indoor ranges all experienced problems with ventilation and cleaning procedures. We can't verify that. All I can say is when members' lead levels increased when shooting at indoor ranges, lead level dropped when they stopped shooting at indoor ranges - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lead-poisoning-valuable-health-information.307170/

 

[LiveLife]

There is lead residue left inside the case from the bullet.

And primers.

 

[sequins]

Lead is an extremely serious concern and a respirator when shooting at an indoor range is a very, very good idea. 3M masks are excellent and you can get reloadable pad models that rule.

 

[redneck2]

I can't imagine using the tumbler with just the slotted lid. Just the amount of dust making a mess would be bad enough without the lead exposure issue.

If it's nice weather I run mine outside. If not, in the garage.

When you dump/sift it makes an incredible amount of dust. I always do that outside where the breeze blows away the dust. And keep your head back. Better yet, wear a mask

 

[mcb]

The lead in spent primers is your biggest source. That lead compound (Lead styphnate) after combustion is in a water soluble form so it readily gets into your blood stream.

I moved all my case cleaning to my shop. One thing I do to keep the dust down is add a small amount (tablespoon or two) of liquid Turtle Wax (car wax) to my vibratory tumbler after filling it with cases and crushed walnut shells. The wax does three things. It keeps the dust down, and coats that cases with a very thin coating of wax. This coating keeps the cases from tarnishing as fast and with pistol cases and carbide dies all the more lubrication you need for sizing.

 

[Jack B.]

Use a Hornady VCC with a solid lid ( I take the sifter lid off and put it back in the box). Corn cob media with some kind of case polish. Separate media from cases with a Lyman Rotary Case/Media Separator with a closed lid out in my garage. Never have had any dust problems. Wouldn't think of vibrating cases in my reloading room which is in the house.

 

[patmccoy]

The lead level of 10 micrograms/deciiter is the old norm for children (who are much more susceptible to health problems from lead); it has recently been lowered to 5.

For adults: (per NY State Dept of Health webpage)
What Lead Levels are Considered Elevated in Adults?

• At levels above 80 µg/dL, serious, permanent health damage may occur (extremely dangerous).
• Between 40 and 80 µg/dL, serious health damage may be occurring, even if there are no symptoms (seriously elevated).
• Between 25 and 40 µg/dL, regular exposure is occurring. There is some evidence of potential physiologic problems (elevated).
• Between 10 and 25 µg/dL, lead is building up in the body and some exposure is occurring.

The typical level for U.S. adults is less than 10 µg/dL (mean = 3 µg/dL)

 

[TomJ]

Thanks for the info. My reloading room is a spare bedroom, and I tumble brass there. It's easy enough to move the tumbler to the garage, so it's going there tonight.

 

[jmorris]

I had high lead/blood, quit indoor shooting and a year later it was ok.

 

[Mike OTDP]

I suspect the primers are the biggest culprit. There's advantages to shooting air rifle and air pistol.