Lead Poisioning -One Of The Risk In gun Shooting

[rajitkg12]

Hi All,

Is it true constant shooting leads to lead poisoning , causing different health issues?? What is your experience?? Is any one noticed health issues relating to lead and smoke exposure.I have read some comments of people say people got cancer working long time in firearm/shooting related jobs.
Initial period of my shooting day I had a habit of keeping air rifle pellet in my mouth as it felt very quick and easy to load I don't know how much lead I might have swallowed.

[timmy]

Hi All,

Is it true constant shooting leads to lead poisoning , causing different health issues?? What is your experience?? Is any one noticed health issues relating to lead and smoke exposure.I have read some comments of people say people got cancer working long time in firearm/shooting related jobs.

It is true, constant shooting can lead to lead poisoning, if proper precautions are not taken. I have shot and also cast bullets for years with no ill effects, as shown by having regular blood tests taken every six months.

Initial period of my shooting day I had a habit of keeping air rifle pellet in my mouth as it felt very quick and easy to load I don't know how much lead I might have swallowed.

Your recent consideration that putting pellets in your mouth is a bad move, is correct. This has exposed you to lead and you should stop. Out at the range, I do a lot of scrounging empty cases (primarily 9mm, but 45 Auto is always the #1 prize!) and used to "mine" the backstop with a trowel and bucket for lead. It is very important, when doing such things, to not eat, rub one's eyes, or put one's hands near the mouth or nose without thoroughly washing hands first.

Of course, hand washing or wearing protective gloves also holds true when one is cleaning guns after shooting, or handling bullets in the course of reloading (although this isn't encountered often on these forums).

Indoor ranges can have lead issues if they are not vented correctly. There are standards for filtration and air quality that must be followed by indoor ranges for them to have a safe shooting environment.

For myself, I seldom shoot inside,not because it is dangerous (the local indoor range is properly ventilated) but because the membership to that facility is too expensive for me. So, all my shooting is outside. As this is a windy area, the risk of lead poisoning is very minimal. and my health checks prove this.

I don't think that shooting is dangerous at all provided that common sense precautions are taken. We shooters are used to this, as we incorporate safety in how we handle the firearm and by wearing eye and ear protection. We know the dangers and take reasonable measures to safely enjoy our sport.

[rajitkg12]

Hi All,

Is it true constant shooting leads to lead poisoning , causing different health issues?? What is your experience?? Is any one noticed health issues relating to lead and smoke exposure.I have read some comments of people say people got cancer working long time in firearm/shooting related jobs.

It is true, constant shooting can lead to lead poisoning, if proper precautions are not taken. I have shot and also cast bullets for years with no ill effects, as shown by having regular blood tests taken every six months.

Initial period of my shooting day I had a habit of keeping air rifle pellet in my mouth as it felt very quick and easy to load I don't know how much lead I might have swallowed.

Your recent consideration that putting pellets in your mouth is a bad move, is correct. This has exposed you to lead and you should stop. Out at the range, I do a lot of scrounging empty cases (primarily 9mm, but 45 Auto is always the #1 prize!) and used to "mine" the backstop with a trowel and bucket for lead. It is very important, when doing such things, to not eat, rub one's eyes, or put one's hands near the mouth or nose without thoroughly washing hands first.

Of course, hand washing or wearing protective gloves also holds true when one is cleaning guns after shooting, or handling bullets in the course of reloading (although this isn't encountered often on these forums).

Indoor ranges can have lead issues if they are not vented correctly. There are standards for filtration and air quality that must be followed by indoor ranges for them to have a safe shooting environment.

For myself, I seldom shoot inside,not because it is dangerous (the local indoor range is properly ventilated) but because the membership to that facility is too expensive for me. So, all my shooting is outside. As this is a windy area, the risk of lead poisoning is very minimal. and my health checks prove this.

I don't think that shooting is dangerous at all provided that common sense precautions are taken. We shooters are used to this, as we incorporate safety in how we handle the firearm and by wearing eye and ear protection. We know the dangers and take reasonable measures to safely enjoy our sport.

Dear Timmy Sir,

Its true precautions prevent damage, I don't think there is much awareness about lead poisoning in India? Or its symptoms shows up bright or soon? I came accross with it recently so I connected dot's with people who I know shooters had some symptoms, I have also heard lead poisoning transmits from mother to baby is it true? does we have any precautions taken in indoor shooting range in India ? does lead bullet or pellets form dust particles if so awareness about it should be needed much more.

[timmy]

rajitkg12: Some historians have advanced the idea that one of the reasons the Roman Empire fell was because of the extensive use of lead pipes and lead utensils. This caused ingestion of lead and resulted in mental disorders and birth defects, among all of the common symptoms of lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning from water sources and pipe joints has recently, and famously, been widespread in the city of Flint, Michigan, USA, and high levels of lead have been found in the population. Bottled water has been brought in, but I wonder how people brush their teeth and what happens when swimming pool water is swallowed, I don't know. Of course, most of the people in Flint are poor, so who cares? The big occupations are blaming someone else and claiming that there's no money to fix the problem, which is very large.

Yes, birth defects are a big issue in lead poisoning and high lead levels do affect fetal development. Check this out for a brief overview: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... c-20354717

I can't tell you anything about the state of indoor shooting ranges. All I can say is that lead dust is generated by shooting lead pellets, bullets, and shot. How much and under what conditions, I can't say. Lead dust is also generated when bullets are cast from lead (the danger is dust; lead requires much higher temperatures to vaporize) and because of this, I've always done this outside. Now, I don't like the neighbors seeing me do this, so I'm figuring out some sort of fume hood -- perhaps a damaged kitchen range hood would work.

For sure, lead needs to be handled with care. I have wanted to find some nitrile or latex gloves (the kind lab workers and doctors use), but I have large hands and from working in scientific labs, I know that the "L" size doesn't fit me too well. I need to keep looking, as I think my past lead handling has been faulty, although as I've said, I never have had symptoms and my blood tests don't show a problem -- yet. When I get to casting, I will be casting thousands of bullets, so I need to deal with this problem now, before I start.

If you are interested, here are some links to check out:

https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/file ... HA3772.pdf

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-sho ... ealth-risk

https://www.usacarry.com/how-to-avoid-l ... r-shootin/

https://thegunzone.com/can-you-get-lead ... ing-range/

As I said, I shoot at an outdoor range and have yet to get out this year. I live at high altitude and we had snow two days ago. The tree in the back yard is just starting to bud out its leaves. I will probably go out next week for the first time. I suppose that, even though I really don't need more, I will pick up a bunch of 9mm brass, and anything else useful that I can find. I really need some gloves for washing these cases, as I already have a boatload to process.

[rajitkg12]

@timmy Thanks For The Information Nice To Know You Are Fom A Place Belongs To One Of Nature's Heaven .

[eljefe]

+ 10 to all that Timmy said.
The best way to stop a heavy metal Like lead to accumulate in body organs besides the sensible precautions is to ‘CHELATE’ it.
For casters, besides gloves ( I use light duty leather gloves, eye protection, and cast outdoors only.

I was told drinking a half litre of milk and a meal of some sort before lead exposure helps bind whatever lead getting into your system. This was also confirmed by an ex smelter working in one of the large smelting company. They had a fridge with bottles of milk to drink, which was mandatory. These people smelted and purified tonnes of metals a day, including lead. So Milk it is for me. I havent casted for a couple of years. Simply because I cast many kilos of various projectiles and horded away. I have to develop a new load of Lee 0.314” 90 gr cast as a subsonic plinker for the 7.63x39. So its milk before starting ,as usual.

[rajitkg12]

Dear Sir,



Nice Thanks

[timmy]

I was told drinking a half litre of milk and a meal of some sort before lead exposure helps bind whatever lead getting into your system. This was also confirmed by an ex smelter working in one of the large smelting company. They had a fridge with bottles of milk to drink, which was mandatory. These people smelted and purified tonnes of metals a day, including lead. So Milk it is for me. I havent casted for a couple of years. Simply because I cast many kilos of various projectiles and horded away. I have to develop a new load of Lee 0.314” 90 gr cast as a subsonic plinker for the 7.63x39. So its milk before starting ,as usual.

What an excellent idea! It's certainly worth a try -- thanks Asif!

@timmy Thanks For The Information Nice To Know You Are Fom A Place Belongs To One Of Nature's Heaven .

Yes, sir!

I love going to the range. I only go on weekdays, so most folks are working and I have the place to myself, or nearly so. The views of the mountains are striking and refreshing, and it's fun to watch the occasional thunderstorm roll in (although the last time, I didn't make it to the car and it's not too smart to be outdoors when lightning strikes -- lesson learned, I hope!)

++++

Edited to add:

Research has also shown that calcium found in dairy products and dark green vegetables can make it harder for lead to accumulate in bones. This is mainly because both lead and calcium are competing for the same spaces in bone tissues.

From here: https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-lead ... ed-4160802