LEAD & MERCURY EXPOSURE

[hangnoose]

After 30+ years reloading I'm finally getting a little concerned. I recently started putting a fabric softener sheet in my tumbler and was surprised how dirty it got. also using a dremel with a wire brush to clean primer pockets, my hands not only got dirty but I could taste the dust. now I've moved the tumbler to the garage & use a dust mask for messy jobs. anybody else concerned or ever get tested for lead or mercury? or am I just being paranoid? now at 56 y/o a little dust, smoke or pollen and I get instant sinus headaches & watery eyes. when younger I lived in toxic chemicals & dust without issues, tree spraying & unloading RR cars of fertilizer that warned you to avoid contact with skin. we were so covered in it you could no longer tell what color your clothes were, no masks, and had it in your eyes, ears, nose & mouth. I'm extremely sensitive to anything now.

 

[murphydog]

It's easy enough to have a blood lead and/or mercury level checked if you are concerned.. Heavy metal exposure is cumulative and can build to toxic levels over time.

 

[MichiganScott]

My doctor agreed to have lead and mercury levels drawn on me about four years ago when I was 56. I've hunted and dined on game since I was 14 to the point that some years little else was the main course. I've reloaded since I was 18. Today, I shoot and reload between 500 and 1000 rds. per year.

The tests came back at levels too low to register. According to my doctor, less than it would have been from environmental contamination in large cities. I no longer worry about it.

 

[Maximumbob54]

If you are getting mercury from your ammo then you must have some seriously old ammo.

 

[RussellD]

If you are concerned about lead levels in your tumbler dust and primer pockets, you may want to consider tumbling with stainless pins and water. Just pour out the dirty water..

 

[Rule3]

Do a search here on this forum. Topic has been ground into the dirt.

Bottom line, unless you shoot indoors don not worry about it. Wash you hands before eating or putting you finger in your nose

Tumble brass with a cover on it. Outside if you can, Change your media often

Wash your hands

Lead is only inhaled or through the mouth or eyes, not through the skin.

Mercury well, that's more from fish and environmental.

Here is one thread, there are many, many more. Get you blood tested if you are concerned.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/232095-blood-lead-levels.html

 

[rwsmith]

The right precautions

I think with the right precautions, which it sounds like you are already doing, there would be no problem. The mask, avoiding the dust, ventilation, not getting it in your eyes or mouth are all good sense.

 

[jepp2]

also using a dremel with a wire brush to clean primer pockets, my hands not only got dirty but I could taste the dust.

I used to clean my primer pockets using an RCBS brush in a Lyman power case trimmer. And I too could "taste" the dust. I started using a good dust respirator and that eliminated the issue. Your Dremel method would be even worse at generating fine dust.

I mention this only because I have changed how I clean primer pockets and it has eliminated this problem. I started uniforming the primer pocket on my high accuracy rifles in hopes of making things more consistent. When I saw how inconsistent the pockets are (depth, rounding at the bottom, etc.) I decided to uniform all primer pockets. The primer pocket uniformer also does an excellent job at cleaning the pockets when you uniform them on the first use, and cleaning the pockets on subsequent use. It is quick and the primer residue stays in a large enough form to not be a dust you can inhale. Kind of like killing two birds with one stone.

Due to my extensive exposure to lead throughout my reloading, shooting, hunting, and consuming lead in game birds, I had my lead level tested. Nearly zero. But as Rule3 correctly pointed out, the only folks with high lead levels shoot lead bullets inside (or in the vicinity of those shooting lead). My blood test only cost around $50 and to me it was worth knowing.

 

[kci-mia]

I've been reloading for 30+ years. First 20 or so were only cast bullets in 38 Special and 45ACP... about 25,000 round of each per year. I get tested for lead level every 2 years and I never had levels above normal.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

I used to clean primer pockets..to the point of being anal about it. A few years back, I did some simple tests and there was virtually little to no difference in velocity or accuracy. This in my varmint rifles. Maybe i've mellowed a bit or figured out I'd rather spend my time shooting than doing a meaningless step while reloading.

 

[hangnoose]

meaningless to YOU maybe

IMO, shooting is very much a mental game & if uniforming primer pockets, neck sizing, weighing cases and trickle dispensing and weighing each powder charge makes YOU think it will be more accurate, I believe it will. whether it's factual or in your head, who cares if groups improve. I've had "EXPERTS" tell me all those extra steps are a waste of time, & other "EXPERTS" say they are essential. I figure it's my time to waste.

 

[WS4JH]

Have not had myself tested, so not sure what I would have got from reloading, or shooting a good bit a indoor ranges over the years. I did get informed when asking about a good friend of mine that I had not seen in years, that he was sick on lead poising, well on his way of leaving this world. Back in the day he did run a in home business as a gunsmith and ammo manufacture. His basement was the lead caster making thousands of bullets a day, and a fully automated Dillon making buckets of rounds. His living room had a hole in the floor so he could watch the manufacturing. The tumbler was two cement mixers, finish tumbling was done if I remember correct with cornmeal soaked in kerosine, so the rounds looked factory. Those were the good old days in Germany, and you could taste the results when you left, sweet and yucky. Today it is more than likely a HAZMAT site.

 

[Nframecollector]

I think you're being overly cautious! IMO

 

[Harrison]

Mercury Exposure Hazard: If you have any curly que light bulbs in your house, for goodness sake don't ever break one. They are loaded with mercury powder. The room where the bulb was broken becomes a hazmat site and you have to take special precautions to safely clean the contaminated mess up. You are probably at greater danger from your government mandated light bulbs than you are from shooting/reloading.

 

[Alk8944]

hangnoose,

Harrison makes an excellent point.

Regarding Lead you may want to refer to my post in this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/332336-lead-bullet-reloading.html

And, yes, you are being paranoid. Since that is exactly what our "Chicken Little" nanny government has desired regarding anything related to firearms (Lead, etc.) they appear to have been successful in your case. (You are not alone!)

 

[fredj338]

IME, things you do to yourself as a youngster come back to bite you as a senior. Tumble brass in the garage or outside, leave the lid on tight. Separate from the media standing up wind & either hold your breath or wear a dust mask. WASH YOUR hnads after handling media. The dust isa very real problem, very fine particles of lead dust are in there.
As far as cleaning primer pockets, nope, not me, never on handgun, maybe every 4-5x on precision rifle. I have never seen any accruacy advantage form a clean vs dirty primer pocket.

 

[parabarbarian]

I have my blood tested for lead every year. A blood test for lead is not expensive. If you have any reason to be concerned, get one. If your level is OK then you can rest easy. If it is not then you can take appropriate steps to reduce it.

 

[chief38]

The only time my Lead level is elevated to 11 to 14 is when I shoot a lot at our indoor range - and we have since installed a state of the art exhaust system that should solve all the problems. Been re-loading for 30+ years and as long as hands are thoroughly washed I've never had a problem.

I find the best soap for really getting all lead off is the old standby: Boraxo Powdered Hand Soap which I buy a 5 pound box for 7.99. Excellent Stuff!!