Blood lead levels

Fishslayer · Feb 12, 2012

I've been shooting & reloading for right on three years now. Generally 2 or 3 sessions a month. I shoot mostly moly coated "black" bullets & plated. Had my checkup recently & had them run my blood for lead.

Doc called last week. Said not to worry about it. Level was "normal."

Got a package from the health dept. today that said my level was 18ug/Dl (micrograms/deciliter). Did some research & found that 25ug/Dl was enough for an "occupational incident" and that 2ug/Dl was "normal." I'm not really impressed with my doctor.

I always thought I was fairly careful but after this wakeup call I gave it some serious thought.

OK.
1. No more brass tumbling indoors. It makes a dusty mess that I'm pretty sure isn't good.

2. I usually wear blue nitrile gloves when reloading, handling dirty brass & when emptying cleaned brass. That will now be "ALWAYS." And a mask while dumping media out of the cases.

3. No more shorts at the indoor range. My knees are usually black from policing my brass. I'm sure that black dust has a goodly amount of lead in it.

4. Gloves for policing brass. I'm a sweeper & scooper. My hands are usually black after a session. I always wash immediately after but pretty sure I'm absorbing some.

5. Range clothes go right in the washer.

Anybody have other suggestions? Thoughts?

socal s&w · Feb 12, 2012

Shoot outdoor ranges.

I have a buddy that shot indoors regularly and ended up with too much lead in his system. (Two of his friends as well.) The air filtration system didn't work properly.

The overload is temporary, but it could have long term effects, he's fine now and no longer shoots indoor unless he has to, even then, it's only once in a blue moon.

Smithhound · Feb 12, 2012

I started working with lead in 1979 as a cable splicer. We worked mainly on lead sheathed cables, made splice cases, soldered them closed with acetylene torches in manholes, splice pits (holes in the ground) and aerial platforms. Many times we had to 'card off' the oxidation from old lead cables that had sat in manholes or the ground for decades. I've been shooting since I was 5, reloading since I was 20 and casting bullets since I was 30, I'm 51 now.
The last time i had my lead levels checked was about 4 years ago, they were completely normal.
You really don't have to get too worked up about lead exposure if you use common sense, don't hang your head over the lead pot, shoot in a well ventilated area, wash your hands after handling lead. It's that simple. Lead has to be ingested either by breathing or swallowing food contaminated by your dirty hands. You are in greater danger driving to the range than you are by casting or reloading.
Don't cast indoors and I avoid indoor ranges is some more good advice.
Having said that I have to admit I have known two people over the years who had severe lead poisoning, one cast bullets in his basement for about 20 years and the other was a commercial caster who also did it indoors. The treatment for it did not sound good at all, so it can happen, but using basic common sense it's just something you don't need to worry about.
RD

jibjab · Feb 12, 2012

"I have a buddy that shot indoors regularly and ended up with too much lead in his system."

Primers can put lead in the air, and yes the dust from your tumble is another rich source.
Good old vitamin C has been shone to reduce blood Pb levels, it couldn't hurt so it maybe a good maintenance plan. I'm not saying it will cure lead poisoning.

chief38 · Feb 12, 2012

Shooting indoors is probably one of the worst culprits, but I made a personal decision a long time ago to purchase cast bullets rather than to cast them myself, just for this very reason. I monitor my lead level and for the most part it seems to always stay at the high end of normal (just under 10) but from time to time it has increased to as much as 14. Not an alarming number, but I need to start going to the outdoor range more than I go to the indoor one. Our indoor Range does not have adequate ventilation as I have recently come to find out the hard way.

Chief38

trulyapostolic · Feb 12, 2012

First, get some Escatech Dlead hand soap.
Second, I now wear 3M N100 respirators while shooting at our very poorly ventilated indoor range.

My level was 46 this fall, first time I've been tested in 3 years also. I'm going to get retested in April or May.

m657 · Feb 12, 2012

I've tested twice in the last 10 years. Both times it was "zero".....but I have an outdoor range, and follow some of the basic handling/washing/don't eat with lead on your fingers hints.

So far so good.

Steve in Vermont · Feb 12, 2012

Because of this issue I've started wearing disposable gloves while picking brass and reloading. I use Citric Acid for cleaning brass. I also carry mini wipes for cleaning my hands after shooting (outdoor range only). Good information. An ounce of prevention....

JohnnieB · Feb 12, 2012

Prevention is the best cure, and my bi-annual lead level tests always come back at next to nothing, so I must be doing things pretty close to right.

I shoot mostly revolvers these days, so I eject my fired brass into coffee cans at the outdoor range.
When I fire one of the four pistols I still have in my collection, I wear exam gloves when I pick up the brass.
In either case, I carry Esca-Tech D-Lead wet/dry hand cleaner in my range bag and clean my hands after packing up my stuff and again after putting it in the the car.
https://www.esca-tech.com/ProductDetail.php?category=1000&productnum=4455ES

My fired brass is stored in fairly well sealed plastic coffee cans until I get around to preparing it for reloading.
My first reloading step is washing the brass. This gets rid of most, if not all, of the lead residue.
Basically, I avoid touching lead contaminated brass.

The brass is, or is almost, lead free when it goes into the tumbler, but I add polish and dryer sheets to the media, which, among other things, keeps the dust to a minimum.

I do handle lead bullets with my bare hands while reloading, but use the D-Lead hand cleaner before taking a break and wash them thoroughly when I'm finished reloading.
If the lead levels in my blood was an issue, I'd use gloves, but it isn't and I prefer to be able to feel what my fingers are doing. YMMV.

john16443 · Feb 12, 2012

Fishslayer was the recipient of 1000 of my lead Mastercast bullets this week. Since my first blood lead check showed an unbelieveable level of 44 ug/dl. This after only 2 years of shooting and 1 year of reloading. A review of my hygenic and operational procedures has shown me how improvements can be made very easily. What I've decided to do is:

Started 1000 units Vitamin C immediately

No shooting or reloading for 3 months (that won't be easy) then retest.

When I do start again, No more tumbling inside the garage, it's all moved outside.

No more brass separation by dumping the mix over an open caldron and bucket. Bought a Cabela's media separator for $0 using my Club points.

No more depriming on the Lee press prior to tumbling. The Lee works just fine, but there is always that black dust left around the press area and the spent primers collecting in an open tupperware. Depriming will be done on the LNL AP as the tube goes right up to the bottom of the case. Spent primers are directed to a water filled milk jug, so no dust anymore.

Start wearing gloves during all reloading operations, really didn't do this before.

Bought a HEPA respirator for all home based reloading activities.

Bought the D-Lead soap and wipes, wiped down my entire reloading area with the wipes.

Make sure I don't go back into the house with any shirt/pants/socks that I wore reloading.

Swore off lead bullets for the time being. Have lots of Berry's and will be buying Precision and/or Precision Delta at least for the near future.

Make sure I get a lane at the range with positive ventilation and wear a mask. Like Fishslayer, wear gloves at the range. Talked to them about this last week.

Other things I am considering include moving to ultrasonic or Thumlers with steel pins, lead free primers ($$$ and only available in small pistol), at least that way there's no dust to deal with.

OKFC05 · Feb 12, 2012

Gloves for policing brass. I'm a sweeper & scooper.

Sweeping up on an indoor range is a major souce of airbourne contamination being breathed in, so much so that some indoor ranges forbid customers doing it. Range cleanup should be done while wearing a gas mask, not a little "painter's mask."
Your lungs are perfect absorbers and should be protected from lead salts and finely divided lead.

lougotzzz · Feb 12, 2012

My lead level is high as well. I found out about 2 months ago.Most shooters/reloaders probably have an elevated lead level and dont know it. It doesnt show signs until you have it bad.

My level is 21.7 it is up from 18 months ago at 8. From all the reading and talking to the doctor normal is below 20. Most adults have below 10. They prefer it under 10. At 25-30 they want to send you to a specialist to lower your lead levels.

I have traced it back to tumbling brass. I will be retested in april. I have gone shooting once since then and wore a mask. I have not reloaded and wont until april and only if my levels go down.

I have though about this long and hard and this is what I will probably do:

Only outdoor shooting for me

1. No more tumbling brass
2. Liquid tumbling if I prep my brass
3. Buy preped brass 308 and 223
4. shoot surplus for plinking
5. Buy loaded pistol ammo
6. If I cant buy loaded pistol ammo buy plated or copper projectiles
7. Hand wipes in the shooting bag
9. Gloves while shooting and picking up brass
10. Wear a mask and apron while shooting/reloading/and handling brass
11. Cloths should not go in the washer with other family members cloths
12. wash your reloading bench with a wet rag and toss it
13. liquid swiffer the floor

The problem is the dust. That can sneak up on you.

Alfalfa is suppose to clean the blood. I have been eating it for 2 months with multi vitamins. The Alfalfa cleans metals from the blood, kidneys and liver.

http://www.dewsworld.com/Fherb_Alfalfa.html

http://www.dietsite.com/dt/AlternativeNutrition/Herbs/alfalfa.htm

I thought I was being very careful and when I found out I was pissed.

Good luck

Skip Sackett · Feb 12, 2012

32 whatevers several years ago when shooting competition indoors every week with a practice session during it as well.

Economy dropped like a rock in 2008 and that cut out a bunch of shooting. Not so much for me, but others lost jobs and dropped out.

I shot some lead but mostly plated indoors. Still, every primer has lead in the compound and that cloud of smoke around you when you shoot rapid fire is absorbed into your lungs pretty well. If you leave the indoor range with a "sweetish" taste in your mouth, that means you got at least some exposure.

Last time my blood was checked it was down to 20 whatevers. I was supposed to have it checked at the last physical but something happened at the doc's so..............

p.s. I was still casting while it was falling, by the way, so I am pretty sure that wasn't the issue in it getting up in the first point.

Fishslayer · Feb 13, 2012

Thanks for all the replies.

John, when we talked I hadn't received my package from the health dept. I was going by what my doctor told me. I may be seing another doctor next time. Those Master Cast will get loaded but be on the back burner till I find an outdoor range.

I think I'm going to be giving my brass a Lemi Shine rinse prior to tumbling. I tried it awhile back & decided it was too much a PITA. At the moment it seems a reasonable precaution. The Lemi Shine cleans really well but if left too long it can leach the copper (or is it the zinc?) out of the brass & weaken it.

I'm going to continue shooting indoors and see what the levels are in 6 months. If my brass handling precautions don't bring the levels down I guess I'll have to find an outdoor range.

EDIT: Are the DeLead soap & wipes significantly better than plain soap & water?

fredj338 · Feb 13, 2012

THe indoor range & the tumbling indoors is probably 90% of your problem. I shoot lead bullets almost exclusively, rarely indoors, less than 3x a year. My lead level last year was single digits. Stop those two things, eat more grapefruit & calcium & things will get better. BTW, I cast my own too, it's the indoor range.

lougotzzz · Feb 13, 2012

calcium very good point. The body cant distinguish between lead and calcium. So if you are calcium deficient the body will absorb the lead looking for calcium. Eat spinach as well. It is a green leaf that cleans the blood and has calcium.

You dont want it to get into the bones. Then it is stored for many many years. Then if you break a bone or other factors it can be released in the blood again.

THe indoor range & the tumbling indoors is probably 90% of your problem
I agree with this. I would/am going liquid tumbling to make sure.

Maximumbob54 · Feb 13, 2012

I try to stick with the simple idea that if I'm in a dust heavy operation like sweeping up or tumbling cases then I either set up enough of an air movement with fans and/or take it outside. I set up a box fan in the garage, open the garge door, and keep the dust blowing out. I also do the dryer sheet trick that cuts down a chunk of the dust created. If I'm sweeping and I don't see the dust cloud being active about moving out and away from me then I set up more fans or just stop.

I usually buy Winchester primers, but I have a few times now bought some lead free primers that I think were CCI. They seem to be pretty rare still. I think moving to the lead free primers is a better idea for all and once the market moves them into mass main production then they will cost roughly the same as standard lead cloud producing primers.

Indoor ranges... If you don't feel at least a gentle breeze from their air handling equipment then they are slacking or just don't care how much you or even they themselves are breathing into the lungs.

lougotzzz · Feb 13, 2012

Read this

Lead Exposure in Adults - A Guide for Health Care Providers

This has a good feel for the situation

Rule3 · Feb 13, 2012

Fishslayer said:
Thanks for all the replies.

EDIT: Are the DeLead soap & wipes significantly better than plain soap & water?

No, the chelation ingredient is EDTA. Any soap with this (most have it) will remove the lead.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There is a really long thread sometime back on lead exposure. From what you have stated, it seems you main source of exposure is inhalation.(indoor range and tumbling) You are not going to absorb much through your hands and skin. Tumbling brass, especially with one that has a slotted top will spread dust everywhere. I taped mine with duct tape.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/164214-lead-vs-jacketed-bullets-only-facts-please.html

Fishslayer · Feb 13, 2012

Rule3 said:
Tumbling brass, especially with one that has a slotted top will spread dust everywhere. I taped mine with duct tape.

When my Cabela's tumbler died I replaced it with a Lyman. Was pretty surprised to see a slotted top on it. Makes zero sense to me. So I use it with the clear plastic cover from the Cabela's tumbler. Work fine.

Blood lead levels

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