Test yourself for lead

[sbwaters]

As a caution I had my lead levels checked at my annual physical. My results were slightly elevated (above normal at 15 but well within the safe range) and I received a call from a nice lady at the state health department to investigate why.

1) In winter I shoot pistols indoors (IDPA with 20 people shooting 50 rounds a time) but FMJ or TMJ is required and exhaust fans are on. I shoot about 75 12 ga. Shotgun shells a week outside at a skeet range.
2) I reload about 100 rounds .45 ACP a week on a single stage press that deprimes spent primers that contain lead. I hand prime. I use latex gloves during depriming and wash after reloading.
3) I tumble clean brass for three hours overnight and the tumbler is on the corner of my reloading bench. The media is reused (about 1500 rounds so far) with a dollop of tumbler polish every couple of batches. Brass is removed by latex glove-covered hands.

As a result of the test, and suspecting tumbling dust as the major culprit, I will likely either remove the tumbler to the garage or switch to a sonic cleaner. Your thoughts?

I’ll also advise the gun club to keep on top of using jacketed bullets and ventilation in the indoor range. Perhaps it is time to rebuild the range to better contain dust.

All shooters/reloaders might want to get a baseline lead test at their next annual physical.

Comments?

 

[MarshallDodge]

Got mine tested a few months ago and it was fine.

I reload about 500 rounds a month of various calibers, the brass tumbling is done outdoors, and I rarely shoot indoors anymore. I also wear nitrile gloves whenever I clean guns.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I have mine tested yearly, since I cast multiple thousands of bullets per year. Mine is well within the safe range at 9.

Take large doses of Vitamin C to remove the lead from your system and stop shooting on an indoor range. You're getting your lead from inhaling the lead styphnate indoors, and if they don't wet mop their range and all surfaces regularly, you're picking it up there. Also wash your hands thoroughly after shooting, or touching anything at that indoor range. If they use carpets on the benches, they need to throw them out. They should also be using a hepa vacuum for cleaning the floors of the range.

I don't wear rubber gloves when casting, reloading or shooting, and I've been at it for over 53 years, but I wash my hands regularly, and I don't eat or put my hands in my mouth, etc. until after I've washed my hands at least twice. Common sense will keep your lead exposure down.

I also have three tumblers going most of the time next to my casting bench, where my Master Caster is mounted. I use the Berry's covered separator to keep the dust down, and I use my corn cob until it doesn't polish anymore.

Personal hygiene is the most important factor in reducing your lead exposure. I'm also very surprised the health department got involved at 15, since they normally don't report anything under 19. Your doctor or lab may be non-shooters..........

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[jmorris]

I get tested every year and smelt, cast, tumble, reload, shoot, pickup brass, then bullets and repeat. The only time I ever went high was when I started shooting indoor matches every week. Quit that part and am "back to normal".

 

[LiveLife]

Inhaled lead dust/vapor is going to be your biggest source of lead exposure. Sorting, tumbling, sifting outdoors with good ventilation is a good idea. I wear respirator when I am sorting/tumbling/sifting range brass outdoors (use 3M respirator with proper filter suited for lead dust).

While TMJ is better than FMJ for lead exposure, I never got TMJ to match the accuracy of my FMJ loads. I would also suggest replacing FMJ (with exposed lead base) with JHP. In addition to reducing lead exposure, JHP shifts the center of mass more towards the bullet base for greater rotational stability and deeper bullet seating depth allows for greater neck tension and more consistent chamber pressures, especially with lighter target loads meeting minimal PF requirements at lower pressures.

While I consider shooting indoors greatest exposure source of lead, if you must, I would minimize it as much as I could.

Take extra precautions when picking up spent brass from indoor range floor as more concentrated lead dust settles on the floor and consider showering/changing clothes/cleaning bottoms of shoes after shooting session to minimize bringing lead dust back into the car/house as much as possible - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9625420#post9625420

 

[Rule3]

There are so many thread and reports on lead it is mind bigling.

From what you wrote you most probable source of lead is the INDOOR range. It is the PRIMERS not the bullets unless they require lead free ammo.

Tumbling inside is not the best for your health either, tumble outside. If your tumbler has a solid lid you are fine, if it has no lid or a slotted lid than that is a problem.

You do not absorbed lead through you skin so handling lead bullets is not it.

Lead is through inhalation, through the eyes or ingesting.

Wash your hands before eating or nose picking.. Wash your range clothes, wear a hat so dust does not get in your hair and then you bring it home,

 

[Salmoneye]

As a caution I had my lead levels checked at my annual physical. My results were slightly elevated (above normal at 15 but well within the safe range) and I received a call from a nice lady at the state health department to investigate why.

This to me is much more of a concern than slightly elevated levels of lead at 50+ years of age...

How would 'The State Health Department' get your personal medical test results under HIPAA?

 

[LiveLife]

There are now reporting triggers doctor's offices & labs must adhere to.

When my blood lead level went from 8 to 12, I got contacted by state public health agency.

I no longer have blood lead level issues as I only shoot outdoors now and currently only use plated or coated bullets (I continue to dry tumble range brass outdoors but wear a 3M respirator with 2091 filters).

Different people absorb and retain lead at different rates (just ask blarby). If your blood lead level stays far below 10, you may only need to take minimal precautions. If your blood lead level continues to increase, you may need to take more comprehensive measures.

When I start casting for .300 BLK and 45ACP coated bullets, I will likely take more comprehensive measures to decrease lead exposure not just for me but for the rest of family and dogs.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

OP-
A level of 15 is something you really want to reduce, I got that high years ago by shooting several hours per month at a busy indoor range with crummy ventilation. I was shooting FMJ and JHP but other shooters had anything.

So I stopped shooting indoors completely for several years, outdoors only.

More recently, I shoot a couple of IDPA matches per month indoors, but they have only one shooter at a time and the range has good ventilation. My lead level has been around 5 for the last two years.

 

[Salmoneye]

There are now reporting triggers doctor's offices & labs must adhere to.

I can't tell where you or the OP are, but lead levels are not required reporting here in VT; at least according to my Wife who is 'in the business', and would be the one doing the reporting for their office...

Reportables are contagious/infectious such as pertussis, syphilis, etc...

One caveat is that 'high' lead levels in children under 72 months are reported...

 

[LiveLife]

Just guess what state I live in? Yup, California.

I didn't think blood lead level of 12 was reportable ... until I got contacted by the state health department. My doctor said the new trigger is anything over 10.

I guess California state government really "cares" about their workers and I felt so heart warmed when I opened the letter ... NOT. It had more to do with Cal OSHA work safety thing ... they wanted to know if I was exposed to lead at work or not so they could go after the employer ... well, I work for the "wonderful" state government of California!

So, no problem ... I told my doctor I had a good idea where my lead exposure came from (indoor shooting) and not my place of work. So I chose not to shoot at indoor ranges until my lead level came down which was about 3 months.

Now that we moved to our retirement location with fresh air and plenty of outdoor locations to shoot, I don't have any lead issues.

 

[Alec]

It had more to do with Cal OSHA work safety thing ... they wanted to know if I was exposed to lead at work or not so they could go after the employer ... well, I work for the "wonderful" state government of California!

I wonder what would have happened if you had said yes...

 

[Schwing]

Different people absorb and retain lead at different rates (just ask blarby). If your blood lead level stays far below 10, you may only need to take minimal precautions. If your blood lead level continues to increase, you may need to take more comprehensive measures.

This pretty much sums it up. I have been involved in dozens of threads about the lead issue since I tend to absorb lead easily. My first test a few years ago was around 25. I went to, what I consider to be, extreme precautions. I wore gloves any time handling lead, I wore a lead/asbestos mask when casting and shooting and I was immaculate in my hygiene practices. I also had every member of my household tested and they were all zero. I am a computer guy so I know I wasn't getting it at work.

I went back a few months later and it was in the 40s! I completely quit shooting or handling anything lead for a few months and stayed in the 40s. Then someone suggested supplements. Vitamin c seems to be the most important with calcium and iron (if you need it which I don't). I started taking them and dropped to 14 in less than 3 months.

Some people are lucky and don't have an issue with it and some are not so lucky. I don't in any way mean to say that high lead levels are not dangerous but it helps to keep in mind that the "acceptable" levels of lead have dropped every couple of decades. Where workers used to be pulled from the job at 60, that is down to 20 or 25. Personally, I don't worry about it anymore. I take extreme precautions, take my supplements and get checked every 3 years or so instead of every few months... I think stress will kill you before lead will

 

[Nature Boy]

Maybe I should get checked. Some mornings it feels like I have about 10 lbs of lead in my ass.

Seriously though, I've got my annual on the 6th so I'm asking my doc to add it to the list. I haven't been reloading that long and don't shoot indoors but it's probably good to get a baseline.

 

[Dudedog]

I had very high levels at one point in time. I pretty much traced the issue to the indoor range were I was shooting.
Once my levels were down I shoot at the outdoor range no increase, reloading no increase, Indoor range levels up again. I cut way back on the indoor range. Even if the bullet has no exposed there is lead in primers unless they are lead free primers.
I always wear a 3m 8515 mask (welding vapor)when dealing with tumbling media, and if I shoot at the indoor range.
One way to check would be to skip the indoor range and do all your other shooting and reloading activities and see if the levels go down, stay the same or go up.
I they are constant there, then make a couple trips to the indoor range and have them checked again.

Sounds like NY is like CA, your private medical information is not really private, the labs are required to release it to the state without letting you even know. (at least in CA)

I guess California state government really "cares" about their workers and I felt so heart warmed when I opened the letter ... NOT