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). .
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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
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: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.
 
Good to point this out Larry.....sorry to hear your levels are so darn high!!
I do a fair amount of reloading with lead bullets.....I will certainly wear gloves and maybe a good quality dust mask while handling the stuff!

I remember a good friend of mine back in Seattle that was our range master in the pistol range. It was a covered range with walls on 3 sides....his lead levels were through the roof and they told him he had to stay in the range master shack and avoid being out on the range during live fire as much as possible. The range got a good was down of walls, benches and ceilings once a month and I can tell you that the water run off was black from burnt powder, lead, etc.

I can only imagine what the EPA would have done if they caught that water running off of the property and leaching into the soil.
 
The sportmans's club I belong to has an indoor range. last spring they installed 2 large air scrubbers. There are instructions on using them. 1-4 shooter you turn on the large fan and one scrubber, 5-10 the large fan and both scrubbers.when done shooting there is no dust down range.
 
Egg tempera and Casein...

sheepdawg said:
Painters back in the times when lead was used as a pigment swore by egg whites or milk. Have no idea whether it worked but I know a couple of painters in their 80s who swore it did.
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The is true. Egg tempera used yolks and casein used milk as a binder.

Even today painting can be hazardous because of some of the pigments and solvents used. It's easy for a painter to get lead or cadmium poisoning (which can be REALLY bad).

I think in the case of shooting, I'd wear gloves, reload fmj, plated or coated bullets and shoot outside whenever you can.

PS Definitely keep lead away from your MOUTH. Somewhere in your procedure there must be some places you can identify where you get the most exposure.
 
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BlueRidgeBoy said:
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.
Click to expand...

Many years ago a chemist told me a very delicious way of lowering lead levels. Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) is a chelating agent. The Vitamin C will bind with the lead and it will be excreted through the urine. He suggested drinking copious amounts of orange juice plus taking Vitamin C tablets. My blood lead level was 17. The last time it was checked, the level was 0.1. I have to admit that I like orange juice, and I do like to eat oranges.

I am sure that the medical profession has techniques to remove lead more efficiently and quickly, but I'll bet their techniques are not as tasty.
 
Jebus35745 said:
GOOD NEWS, they posted my level on MY CHARTS and it's at 27.3 not 70. The girl must have read it wrong. Sorry for the panic, not my fault. Whew, I can live with this. Not good but not what I first heard. At least we're getting a review of lead. Larry
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I think 50 is the cut off. You aren't in the danger zone. Ask your doctor about the cut off.

I had lead and mercury poisoning. I don't know where it came from. Lead from reloading/trap shooting and mercury from deep water fish I guess. I had chelation therapy for about 3 months and my levels dropped. I still shoot and reload but I take precautions. I shoot coated and FMJ now. I also shoot at an outdoor range.
 
According to how and what measurement it is in whether it's good or bad ..

only a level of 0 in children is considered safe .. Hope you can find the cause and eliminate it from your life !!
 
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LostintheOzone said:
I think 50 is the cut off. You aren't in the danger zone. Ask your doctor about the cut off.

I had lead and mercury poisoning. I don't know where it came from. Lead from reloading/trap shooting and mercury from deep water fish I guess. I had chelation therapy for about 3 months and my levels dropped. I still shoot and reload but I take precautions. I shoot coated and FMJ now. I also shoot at an outdoor range.
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It's 40 micrograms per deciliter (45mcg/dL). Above that level, treatment is required. Micrograms may also be denoted as µg

Here are the cut-offs used by the New York State Department of Health:

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 occuring, even if there are no symptoms (seriously elevated).

Between 25 and 40 µg/dL, regular exposure is occuring. 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 occuring.

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

Others have commented above on the hygiene measures needed to avoid and reduce lead exposure (changing clothes, washing hands, etc.).

How serious is it? The Maryland Department of Occupational Health suspended a paid RO from his job because of his high lead levels (airborne particulate lead from an indoor range with decent ventilation).

The administration at MCB Quantico had to shut the indoor range where we used to shoot indoor 2700s because they couldn't reduce ambient lead levels. I don't know if they were ever able to get the problem solved and that range re-opened. I hope they did.
 
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Whitwabit said:
According to how and what measurement it is in whether it's good or bad ..

only a level of 0 in children is considered safe .. Hope you can find the cause and eliminate it from your life !!
Click to expand...

I think you missed post 19 where the OP said the good news is that the 70 reading was a mistake - and his actual reading is only 27...
 
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