Calling all Scientists-LEAD POISONING!!!

[packnrat]

I believe the OP is planning on doing so, or has. What he is bringing up is that many doctors do not know the actual risks of our sport. There are very few doctors that actually shoot and/or reload, so they wouldn't have any actual first hand knowledge on how to mitigate lead contamination based on experience.

I think we should all request a heavy metal or a lead-only blood test periodically. This will give us some indication of where we stand. Like another poster stated, we may not exhibit any symptoms of lead poisoning. But, then again, here's the list from the mayo clinic website:
*High blood pressure
*Joint and muscle pain
*Difficulties with memory or concentration
*Headache
*Abdominal pain
*Mood disorders
*Reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm
*Miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth in pregnant women

How many of these symptoms can be explained by something else or even not noticed by casual observation?

What about those that don't present as symptoms? Such as kidney problems?

Here is the first sentence under Symptoms and Causes:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/home/ovc-20275050

Please people, be careful. Some problems caused by lead poisoning can't be cured.

well i do have the first six of the listed problems.
all of these "problems" are from other sources.
unknown about number 7. do to another reason.
and no way on number 8 as i am a guy.

and no i do not have a lead problem.... except maybe n my butt.

at 57 no problems, but then i shoot outside. as a "kid" we used to crimp lead weights to the fishing line with our teeth.

just me, but i have never heard of anyone getting lead poisoning.

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[d33pt]

When I was a kid and before I knew that mercury was a poisonous heavy metal, I accidentally broke a thermometer and had a great time playing with the mercury.

Then I told my cousin and she said someone broke one at school and they evacuated the classroom. Now I know. Still alive though.

[I Swan]

Shoot Russian steel ammo, no lead.

I don't know if you're joking but this ammo generally has a lead core and a bimetal jacket of steel and copper. The primers contain lead too.

[JackEllis]

I found this thread pretty interesting and as a result, I'm making a few changes to the way I deal with used cases, spent primers and reloading.

If you have a child, there's good reason to be concerned and to take some extra precautions because everything I've read say lead can mess kids up permanently. Since I don't have kids, I'm not going to become obsessive but I do pick up spent primers, I wash my hands after working on the various reloading steps, and I'm going to get tested for lead exposure next time I see the doc.

The Romans used lead to make water pipes. I think I remember reading some speculation that lead poisoning might have been a factor in the bizarre behavior of some of the Roman emperors. And don't forget the mess in Flint, where lead in the water pipes leached into the water supply when the city was switched to a more acidic primary supply. The problem only really came to light when residents started complaining about health problems.

[swift]

Wash your face and hands and change your clothing after shooting, and after cleaning your guns before hanging out with the little guy.

this is all I did. My kids turned out fine, 2/2 national honor society.

I was more concerned about the dangers of household chemicals.

[Packy14]

What articles have you read about shooting that has contributed to lead poisoning? I hate to be rude, but this smells like a troll post.

Have you ever checked your serum blood lead level? If you shoot regularly it's gonna be >10 which is harmful, unless you use things like D-lead and are very careful with your clothing (I wear dedicated range clothes and shoes and the clothes go straight to the wash when I get home). Wash with cold water always, hot water opens pores leading to increased absorption. When cleaning your guns, wear gloves. As far as a kid, unless you touch them or their environment while dirty, they'll be fine.

[Packy14]

Aside from the anecdotal comments/posts on this thread, lead poisoning can be a problem.

First and foremost, get yourself tested and get your kids/family tested. Doing periodically. Keep track. Without knowing the actual lead levels, you will not know if your shooting has any affect on your child's health or not. Or your's for that matter.

*IF* your levels are high or your children's levels are high, the State will contact your doctor. Request your doctor for absolute confidentiality. That's what I had to do in my case. I can't remember what my levels were, but they were high. I got a letter in the mail, my doctor got calls. My doctor asked me if it was o.k. to release info to the State and I declined. I was o.k. telling her why my levels were high, but that's as far as I wanted it to go.

You're doing a good job of preventing contamination. It's more than just shooting. It's where you clean. How you clean up afterwards. Are you using Hoppe's No 9? Now THAT is some crazy nasty stuff. Use Ballistol or Breakfree CLP. They're non-toxic. Like you said, it could be on the floor etc. It could be in the garage. It is on the range bag and anything else that gets contaminated.

Remember, not all bodies are affected in the same way to lead. Some people have a higher sensitivity to it.

Keep track. Take precautions. If you see the levels going up, take further action. But, unless you have those tests done, you won't know.

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

Happy shooting, be healthy and be safe.

Break free is not nontoxic. Try mpro7.

[Packy14]

I got lead in me from shooting. You can also get lead in your system if you reload lead bullets. You will not know you have lead in your system unless you get tested. The doctor will not normally test you for lead unless you ask. It is a piss test.

Next time you go to the doctor for a physical, ask them to test you. If you test positive, they will notify the State Health Dept, and they will send you a pamphlet about lead exposure.



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It's not a piss test if you want the most important value, your serum lead level. It's a blood test.

[ugimports]

It's not a piss test if you want the most important value, your serum lead level.

mine was a blood test

[XDJYo]

Break free is not nontoxic. Try mpro7.

Here's the MSDS sheet for Breakfree CLP. I guess my comment was more so comparing it to the likes of Hoppes #9 which is REALLY bad. CLP isn't that bad as long as you don't inhale, ingest or get it in your eyes. It's not a carcinogen nor does it attack your organs.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/MSDS/MSDS00029/77486207-20100925.PDF

It's not a piss test if you want the most important value, your serum lead level.

I've always had the blood test. I didn't know that they had a pee test for lead until I went once and the tech asked me if I wanted to pee or bleed.

Happy shooting and be safe all!

[XDJYo]

Just got my blood drawn yesterday. Not expecting any surprises, but since I get my blood work done at least once a year, I have them check it.

Talked to the doctor and he said one of his patients cast his own bullets and had really high levels. Once he stopped, it went back to normal.

[otteray]

Look into eating heavy metal chelating agents like cilantro and parsley.

[bk23103]

It seems there are lots and lots of replies to this thread, and it made me think of an episode of Forensic Files I saw recently.

I don't know if it's already been brought up or not, but the episode detailed the story of a young Sudanese immigrant in New Hampshire who died of suspicious circumstances, eventually determined to be acute lead poisoning. The child was known to eat chunks of paint from a porch of the family home, and the case lead to the conviction of the landlord violating the 1978 Lead Disclosure Law.

Here's the episode and a summary:

http://www.lead.org.au/lanv15n2/lanv15n2-2.html

[Carcassonne]

It's not a piss test if you want the most important value, your serum lead level. It's a blood test.

I didn't know that, and obviously, my doctor didn't either (typical doctor).



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[XDJYo]

Got a call last week from the doctor, lead levels were 'negative'. Not sure what that means. But it's better than a call from the State. I asked for a copy to be mailed to me. Will update later.

I didn't expect the numbers to be high as I haven't been shooting much, but I have been spending more time in the reloading room. So this is encouraging.