Wife is pregnant... and I reload in our bedroom

[Millwright]

After reading a LOT of posts on this thread, makes me wonder how the human race survived to get to be so paranoid !!
Lead, (you know that heavy stuff) isn't mutagenic. Its toxic, but so is water ! The key is quantity ! In this case micrograms/milliliter. A developing fetus may absorb some lead from its mother's bloodstream because that's what nourishes it ! But mom's body and the placenta both filter what baby gets. So unless mom is spending a lot of time at non/poorly-ventilated ranges, you live in the "lead belt", or next door to a lead smelter, don't worry ! Lead styphonate is a thing of the past in primers, (and only important after they're ignited IAC). Casting is the next most likely avenue, but I doubt if you're doing that !

Now if you really need to worry, think about what she (and hence the baby) ingests, and handles ! Mutagenic and carcenogenic substances exist in a lot of processed foods, clothing, furniture and paints in our modern society ! Again the key remains dosage/kilogram of body weight. IOW, rapidly drinking several 12 oz. bottles of water won't harm a normal human, but will kill a baby !

Keep the lady out of the room while reloading if it makes you feel better. You handle all the materials -never tought about what makes up that powder did you ? - and do the clean up with a damp rag/towel you dispose of and everyone should be safe as its possible to be in today's world. >MW

 

[ArchAngelCD]

buckeye8,
I know you have good intentions but you really shouldn't be asking us about health matters. All we can do is give you our opinion and I don't think anyone here is a doctor. (but there could be a few) I would ask your doctor but remember, most doctors are anti-gun and might tell you to stop reloading and shooting and get all the guns out of the house because you are going to have a child.

 

[qajaq59]

I'm afraid you're stuck with the decision.

But since you've obviously been loading in that bedroom for a while, whatever your wife was going to get into her system, is already in there anyway.

 

[DJW]

Just be careful to pick up ALL used primers........women, especially pregnant ones, do NOT LIKE stepping on them barefoot! Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[Six]

I assume you've read the lead sticky.

As someone with young kids in the home, I load in larger batches so I don't have to do it nearly as frequently. I load up every couple of months and then tear everything down, put it in boxes, and clean up.

I don't think I have any advice that would convince you either way, but keep in mind that with a toddler in the house, for a long period of time, everything will go into their mouths.

Are you comfortable with your kid effectively eating off the floor/carpet under the reloading bench?

If it were me in that situation, I would find a way to load outside, or at a friends house, or the range, or somewhere else. Or just buy ammo for a while...

 

[buckeye8]

Thanks for the advice, guys. And the jokes. All kidding aside, who wouldn't want to start a family with a girl like mine? I'm about as lucky as it gets when it comes to the wife's attitude to the guns. Today, she took me shooting for Father's Day.

To those who want me to ask the doctor: I put more stock into the honest opinions of people who have lots of experience reloading in the home than I do some doctor. The doctor will hear the words "lead" and "firearms" and immediately jump into legal/cover-his-own-arse mode and tell me to stop. He's not going to give it any serious consideration, and with malpractice lawsuits the way they are, who could blame him?

We go to the doctor next week. I promise to ask the question and post his/her response in this thread. I will be shocked if he/she does anything other than dismiss the idea out of hand without the slightest bit of thought. Not because he/she knows anything about reloading... but because he/she didn't make it through medical school without learning the old "CYA" game. We'll see.

 

[fguffey]

In 1982 the .01 cent coin went from copper to zinc, like lead, there are reloaders that exempt them self from the hazard of lead so I can not speak for them but the zinc .01 cent coin if swollowed by a dog can kill it (the dog).

What's the Point? The brass case is 17% (+ or -) zinc .

F. Guffey

 

[evan price]

Zinc is in so many things we handle everyday, from door handles to bathroom fixtures. The problem is ingestion of a quantity of lead. We eliminated leaded gasoline, lead pipes and lead paint so there's really not much lead left in the world. As long as nobody is eating off the press or chewing on materials there's no problems. If you're worried, open a window and keep things clean.

 

[Hey_Allen]

If you want to find a doctor who'll take a bit more serious of a look at lead issues in health, you might see if there are any of the homeopathic physicians or the like in your area.

I'm not completely convinced one way or the other in the field, but my parents have been taking a good bit of time to dig into it, and coming up with some surprising info and resources.

(Dentistry without the mercury amalgam fillings is one of the bigger things that reminded me of their reading and research. Heavy metals in liquid form, inside your mouth, anyone?)

 

[qajaq59]

Not all the doctors a are silly. I asked mine about lead and reloading and his reply was. "you're fine unless you lick each bullet before you load it." LOL

 

[ranger335v]

"Are you comfortable with your kid effectively eating off the floor/carpet under the reloading bench?"

I would not be comfortable with that. I'd use the vacuum after a reloading session. Or after walking in with dirty shoes. Or after spilling a bag of beans, etc.

 

[fguffey]

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/zinc.html

zinc is a good thing but there are reloaders that like ammo with cases that shine so they use 3M green pads and steel wool with a Lee zip case spinner, so it could be a good ideal to place an exhaust fan in the open window, after the dust is exhausted out the window, it does not exist?

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

and if you ware dentures and use denture paste/cream check the contents, those that use dentures and use the number one product are being poisoned if they use too much and swallow the excess paste. The company that manufactures the paste say it is the customers fault for using too much, again zinc is good, too much can wreck your health, then there are those that exempt them self's from some hazards, in the old days they were called Sergeants.

F. Guffey

 

[budiceman]

Wow, I'm shocked I made it this long. Growing up in a house with lead paint, pencils with lead, riding bikes without helmets, no cell phones, walking to school or anywhere, et.

 

[fguffey]

"pencils with lead"

Pencils never used lead, not in 2,000 years, and you were lucky, you did not grow up near a lead smelting plant.

F. Guffey