High Lead Levels

Jebus35745

Jebus35745

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Well the blood test came back very high. Normal is from 0-5 and I'm way over, around a 70. Doctor said to stay away from the range so I will and have the blood checked again after Christmas. Searching high lead levels on the internet, there is nothing to help lower the count except don't shoot. I use cast lead bullets also and didn't wear latex gloves when reloading. Guess the lead can penetrate the skin when handling bullets. Guess reloading is stopped for a while also. Handling ammo/bullets while shooting is another source. I always wash my hands after shooting or reloading but it is too late.

So, here's a warning to everyone. Be careful how you participate in our hobby. I'll wear a mask from now on also. It's an indoor range/gun club I belong to.

Anyone else have high lead levels and what did you do for it. Larry
 
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The indoor range I shoot at literally set the standard for range air quality in my county. That is why I joined.

I do my bit by shooting FMJ, and for 9mm, TMJ from Speer Lawman.

Good luck with your lead problem.
 
Jebus35745 said:
Well the blood test came back very high. Normal is from 0-5 and I'm way over, around a 70. Doctor said to stay away from the range so I will and have the blood checked again after Christmas. Searching high lead levels on the internet, there is nothing to help lower the count except don't shoot. I use cast lead bullets also and didn't wear latex gloves when reloading. Guess the lead can penetrate the skin when handling bullets. Guess reloading is stopped for a while also. Handling ammo/bullets while shooting is another source. I always wash my hands after shooting or reloading but it is too late.

So, here's a warning to everyone. Be careful how you participate in our hobby. I'll wear a mask from now on also. It's an indoor range/gun club I belong to.

Anyone else have high lead levels and what did you do for it. Larry
Click to expand...


Scroll down to the bottom of this thread, there is a list of "similar threads" about high lead levels in the blood.

Rather than repeating it over and over, read through those.

Your lead exposure is from something OTHER than handling lead bullets.
You do not absorb lead through your fingers (skin)

There are also some LONG threads in the reloading section.

Blood lead levels

LEAD vs JACKETED (bullets) only the facts please
 
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Generally, in adults, any concentrations of lead in the blood > 45 mcg/dL warrant treatment. So, 70 definitely puts you in that range.

What is often prescribed is an FDA-approved treatment called "chelation" (key-LAY-shun) therapy. One of several drugs is introduced into the body. The drug binds with the lead, and is then excreted. Over time, this will lower lead levels to within normal limits. You should talk to your doctor about this.
 
I have become VERY concerned about lead exposure, especially since I have a young child.

I have DLead wipes, and Dlead soap. I wash my hands obsessively, even after I handle my guns.

Everytime you shoot a gun, a huge cloud of lead gets sprayed everywhere. It's in the primer, it's in the slug. Shooting indoors can be very dangerous for lead exposure, and the range should have fans pushing the air down range at all times.

The lead from shooting at the range sticks to your body, your hair, your clothes, and you shoes. It's everywhere. It's in your car after your range trip, it's all over the car seat and steering wheel. Your range bag is LOADED with lead. So is any holster you use. Everywhere in your house you sit your range bag, you're contaminating with lead particles.

If you're around young children, even a tiny amount of lead will cause neurological damage that is permanent.

Take this seriously. Remove all clothes including shoes after shooting (preferably before you enter the car), wash your hands, shower thoroughly, and do not eat anything until you're clean.

Be mindful where you clean your guns. Each time you ram the bore rod with a patch, particles of lead are being sprayed all over that room.

I'm very careful about lead.
 
Had a yearly check up and decided to check the lead levels. Medicare pays for the blood test. Since I retired, I started up a Tuesday morning shoot and was curious as to see what shooting every week would do. Getting some good info so far. The more I search, the scarier this gets at the level I'm at. I had no signs of anything wrong before the test. Larry
 
American1776 said:
Remove all clothes including shoes after shooting (preferably before you enter the car). .
Click to expand...


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...I just read a story about an actress back in the 1950s who died of lead poisoning from long term use of an imported Calcium supplement...

...I agree with arjay that you should have your water tested...
 
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"Lead is in the primers" American 1776.

The EPA removed ALL lead from US primers in 1998! (that is one of the reasons Match 22's and Match center fire ammo were junk for 8 to 10 years. They didn't have a high quality replacement!)

Ivan
 
ParadiseRoad said:
...I just read a story about an actress back in the 1950s who died of lead poisoning from long term use of an imported Calcium supplement...

...I agree with arjay that you should have your water tested...
Click to expand...

That would be Allison Hayes the lead in movie The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. She also appeared in several episodes of Perry Mason as well as lots of late 50s and 60s TV.

Allison Hayes - Wikipedia
 
Good friend operates a scrap yard, sells tons of lead a year. One of his employees showed up with very high lead levels, the EPA immediately shut his operation down. His lead level was normal and so were the rest of his employees

Turned out the man with the high level of lead had picked up (stolen) a cast iron skillet from his neighbor who used it to heat lead to cast bullets and was using it to cook his food. That was the source of his high lead level.

The EPA is still investigating!!!!
 
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Ivan the Butcher said:
"Lead is in the primers" American 1776.

The EPA removed ALL lead from US primers in 1998! (that is one of the reasons Match 22's and Match center fire ammo were junk for 8 to 10 years. They didn't have a high quality replacement!)

Ivan
Click to expand...

:confused::confused:

I do not know where you got your "information" but that is not correct.

There are now lead free ammo/primers BUT the lead primers and ammo are still here in abundance, All the primers I have SP, LP, SR, LR have lead in them,

http://www.winchester.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/pdf/SDS/PRIMERS – CENTERFIRE.pdf
 
Mine was high for a while Doctor said it was most likely being auto service indursty for 35 years plus . tire wheel weights lead
 
I was a Rangemaster for a number of years and never had a problem with my levels and I was tested every 6 months. I ALWAYS washed my hands and face with COLD water and soap after coming off the range. The only guys I ever saw get in trouble with their lead levels were the maintenance guys. They would walk right off the range and eat their lunch. They had to take these Massive pills that would lower their lead levels over time.
 
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