IS IT DANGEROUS TO USE HEPA FILTER WHILE PRIMING?

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marathonrunner

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Guys, sorry for so many questions, but in an effort to keep "Lead dust" from priming and depriming to a minimum, I was planning on using a vacuum cleaner with a hepa filter while depriming and priming to ensure I do not breath any. The tech support person said using a vacuum would be a huge no no while priming but a hepa filter that sucked particles in wouldn't be an issue. I would think the hepa filter would accumulate just as much lead dust as a vacuum cleaner. Any suggestions on limiting exposure? Maybe I can lay down wet newspaper so the dust settles there.
 
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There isn't any lead dust danger from primers while priming cases, unless you plan to "pop" a primer or two just for the hail of it.

My press is in the garage, so de-priming while resizing does not produce any significant exposure either. Well, yeah, I do wash my hands afterwards. Ingested lead dust or lead product residues are the most common cause for concern.

If lead dust from primers is that large a personal concern for you, you might want to stick to commercial ammunition, only use ammunition with lead free primers and fully encapsulated bullets (like Speer Lawman Clean-fire) , and avoid reloading completely.

Oh, and this is all just my understanding based on reading and discussions with fellow hand loaders. Some people have gone so far as to have the level of lead in their blood checked by their doctors without detecting any issues. The general consensus is that loading is not a significant contributor but that handling fired cases and eating without hand washing can be a genuine issue.

Admittedly, since we live in Arizona and only shoot at outdoor ranges. In contrast, some indoor ranges with poor ventilation may be more of a problem since you cannot control the air "quality" contributions from other people's ammunition.
 
Stop being so paranoid! You are a victim of the "Antis" who are doing everything they can to demonize Lead with the hoped-for end result of Lead being banned completely from ammunition manufacturing.

I have been reloading for 54 years, and have cast literally tons of bullets for my own use. I do everything wrong according to the "experts", including eating while casting without (gasp!!) washing my hands! I cast in the garage with the door open strictly to keep the smoke from fluxing down. I work in my gun room while the vibratory case polisher is running!!!!! According to the "Experts" who claim such dire effects from Lead exposure I should probably be dead!

The last time I had a "Lead Screen" run during a physical the result was Blood-Lead level of 6 parts per billion. A reading of anything less than 24 PPB Blood Lead is considered NORMAL! At least that is the figure my Dr. gave me. I have seen other claims of slightly lower numbers. Regardless my levels were 1/4-1/3 that of most who never have any contact with Lead at all.

The hazard that Lead represents has been so exaggerated by the Antis that it is totally ridiculous! Forget the filter, vacuum whatever and you will be just fine. If you are really concerned then have a Blood-Lead screen run every 2-3 years during your annual physical. To know what your normal level is, have a screen run now, so you have a basis for comparison later!

The only real hazard is shooting frequently, and extensively, in indoor ranges which are poorly ventilated.
 
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Alk8944 said:
Stop being so paranoid! You are a victim of the "Antis" who are doing everything they can to demonize Lead with the hoped-for end result of Lead being banned completely from ammunition manufacturing.

I have been reloading for 54 years, and have cast literally tons of bullets for my own use. I do everything wrong according to the "experts", including eating while casting without (gasp!!) washing my hands! I cast in the garage with the door open strictly to keep the smoke from fluxing down. I work in my gun room while the vibratory case polisher is running!!!!! According to the "Experts" who claim such dire effects from Lead exposure I should probably be dead!

The last time I had a "Lead Screen" run during a physical the result was Blood-Lead level of 6 parts per billion. A reading of anything less than 24 PPB Blood Lead is considered NORMAL! At least that is the figure my Dr. gave me. I have seen other claims of slightly lower numbers. Regardless my levels were 1/4-1/3 that of most who never have any contact with Lead at all.

The hazard that Lead represents has been so exaggerated by the Antis that it is totally ridiculous! Forget the filter, vacuum whatever and you will be just fine. If you are really concerned then have a Blood-Lead screen run every 2-3 years during your annual physical. To know what your normal level is, have a screen run now, so you have a basis for comparison later!

The only real hazard is shooting frequently, and extensively, in indoor ranges which are poorly ventilated.
Click to expand...

Best answer! Case closed.
 
Like the others I think you are going WAY overboard worrying about lead. Primary points of lead exposure are in handling lead bullets while loading (wear latex gloves), exposure to the dust produced from dry tumbling (tumble wet with stainless steel pins), and at the firing line at indoor ranges (shoot at properly ventilated ranges). Use the suggested safety procedures and your biggest lead exposure risk will be at small airports or drag racing tracks where lead additives to fuel are still used.
 
On top of the lead exposure from shooting, loading, casting bullets and fishing sinkers I worked as a lineman for a utility company that used lead sheathed cables. If lead exposure is as dangerous as some want us to believe lineman and splicers wouldn't make it to 30. Larry
 
For a material to pose a risk to your health, it first has to be toxic and then there has to be a route of exposure. Lead is unquestionably toxic (not some plot 'ginned up by the antis to take our guns away), but some routes of exposure are so miniscule as to not be an issue - priming/depriming is one of those, and you shouldn't worry about it. For shooters, the primary route of exposure is inhalation in indoor ranges, followed by ingestion of lead on the hands from not washing after handling lead. Dermal absorption (i.e., lead passing through the skin) occurs at such a low rate that it can be ignored. I don't have any information on exposure from bullet casting, but everything I've read indicates the risk is small if it's conducted in a well-ventilated place, which only makes sense.

I know from several of your other posts that you're greatly concerned about the risk of lead exposure from reloading activities. There's nothing wrong with expressing concern about activities that can be harmful to your health, but it's just as important to prioritize the risks and then manage those that are significant and not get distracted worrying about those that aren't. Get your serum lead level checked as part of your normal physical exams (and be sure it's reported in micrograms per deciliter, not ppb - ug/dl is the standard unit of measure and what the CDC guidelines are expressed in) to be sure you're not being exposed, take reasonable precautions with indoor ranges, wash your hands after shooting or reloading, and otherwise go about enjoying your shooting/reloading/bullet casting hobby.
 
Follow some simple safety and sanitary rules,
WASH YOUR HANDS,
DON'T SMOKE/EAT/DRINK WHILE RELOADING,
You could also wear Nitrile or Latex throwaway gloves.
They also make DUST TYPE MASKS that are of a more expensive
variety and designated for lead.

QUIT WORRYING, many of us older folks used to PLAY WITH MERCURY
in high school chemistry class, SURPRISE WE'RE STILL HERE.
Mercury is dangerous, but WE NEVER CALLED POLICE, HAZ-MAT, THE NATIONAL GUARD to deal with the issue.

When we were done CLEANING OUR "SILVER" COINS, WE JUST CHASED THE MERCURY BACK INTO IT'S CONTAINER.

YOU along with the rest of us should be more concerned with THE SUPER BUGS, being created by THE OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS
by Paranoid folks and Soccer Moms with their OVERPROTECTED kids.

JMHO!
 
if it bothers you that bad why not use lead free primers?
 
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No questions are stupid so continue to ask away. Some of us just can't seem to not beat down on new reloaders. I agree with most of them though - it's a non-issue. What are going to do when you shoot them? Wear a mask? Been doing this for 37 years and shot in many indoor ranges. Had to clean my nose before going back to work (lunch time) after shooting which was blackened from all the **** in the air. Going on 62 now and nothing wrong with me other than still just a mediocre shot ha-ha. Wear one of those formed, white masks while loading if you are still worried. Good luck!
 
Moonman said:
Follow some simple safety and sanitary rules,
WASH YOUR HANDS,
DON'T SMOKE/EAT/DRINK WHILE RELOADING,
You could also wear Nitrile or Latex throwaway gloves.
They also make DUST TYPE MASKS that are of a more expensive
variety and designated for lead.

QUIT WORRYING, many of us older folks used to PLAY WITH MERCURY
in high school chemistry class, SURPRISE WE'RE STILL HERE.
Mercury is dangerous, but WE NEVER CALLED POLICE, HAZ-MAT, THE NATIONAL GUARD to deal with the issue.

When we were done CLEANING OUR "SILVER" COINS, WE JUST CHASED THE MERCURY BACK INTO IT'S CONTAINER.

YOU along with the rest of us should be more concerned with THE SUPER BUGS, being created by THE OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS
by Paranoid folks and Soccer Moms with their OVERPROTECTED kids.

JMHO!
Click to expand...

I actually rode a bicycle and a a skate board without a helmet!
 
Wow and to think I would break the mercury up, than chase it back into a pool all over the desk, just like the thousands of kids before me. We are fortunate to live in a world with the technology we have, unfortunately there is also a "lot" of junk science. Depending on the week, red meat or fish is bad, alcohol for your heart gives you cirrhosis!!?? Moderation is truly the key, ( and not standing in front of moving trains ) to a healthy life.
Out of curiosity, why would the vacuum be a " no no"?? If you live or work in NYC or LA you would not worry about lead toxicity. Be Safe,
 
Like others have said here, keep asking questions but don't worry too much about lead exposure.
Since you are reloading you have worse things to worry about such as availability of components like powder, primers, bullets etc......
 
@marathonrunner:

- Don't let the back and forth here discourage you from asking questions like this. Only you can determine what needs to be asked. The back and forth is mostly about us, not you :)

- Most of us would avoid shooting indoors without proper ventilation over long periods of time. Most of us would take at least SOME steps to avoid inhaling the dust cloud that can result from tumbling fired cases in dry media. Most of us would try to wash our hands after shooting.

However, very few of us would do more than wash our hands after depriming, priming, reloading, or any other handloading activity. And we'd do that mostly because the hands get dirty lol.

- No one can tell you what to be concerned about but yourself. FWIW even though I have no concerns about lead exposure I decided to have a lead test included in my next routine blood work as a baseline. IMO, I am just another person creating unnecessary expense because with insurance it is "free" to me. But I did do it :)

- Just guessing . . . but the major concern with vacuum cleaners and primers is getting a primer smashed by rotating fan blades. They tend to fire if struck like that :)
 
You probably won't get much exposure from depriming brass,just wash your hands when you leave the bench and if you use a vibratory case cleaner,run it outside.
 
Don't get all paranoid about the dangers of lead while reloading. If your reloading area has a window or door a fan will ventilate the area nicely. And a general purpose sanding/mold mask can be worn , when done a wash of the hands will keep you OK.
And don't put bullets or primers in your mouth.
 
Once upon a time didn't toothpaste come in lead tubes? Did people that didn't brush their teeth live longer. Are people that are living and working on old battle field sites dying quicker than those that don't. I'm 72 and if second hand smoke don't kill me I guess I will die because I worked around lead for 40 years. Larry
 
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