Blood lead level

[Rusty Gun]

have any of the reloaders/shooters here been tested for elevated lead levels in your blood?

I have not, but wife tells me she read that it is a very real problem with guys that shoot a lot especially indoors, and gets even worse if you handle used brass like I do.

I use an RZ mask that filters down to .01 micron anytime I work with dirty brass or my vibratory tumbler. I do not know what the filtration level to eliminate lead vapors should be.

Anybody have any data on this?

 

[benenglish]

I've only known one shooter to have a lead problem and his was serious. He virtually lived in the pistol range at Rice University, a range that literally had zero ventilation. He developed symptoms, got tested, and had very elevated lead levels. The school closed the range for repairs and it never re-opened. That's the only actual shooter I've ever known to have a problem with lead levels.

Exposure at an indoor range would have to be prolonged to have a problem. That's why good indoor ranges test their RSOs for lead levels but I doubt anyone else will be exposed enough to have a problem.

Personally, I take the basic precautions. I wear gloves when handling anything with lead dust. I wash my hands after shooting or handling lead. I never eat after shooting or handling lead without first washing my hands. That last one is the most important; to me, it's worth keeping some lead removal soap around. See: http://www.uniquetek.com/product/T1262

After asking my doctor to test me for lead levels a few times (it's no big deal to add the test on to a normal run of labs), I concluded I was worried about nothing. YMMV.

 

[Younggun]

I take no precautions.

More likely to be killee by nicotine or PCBs.

Never heard of sny reloaders having issues and tend to believe that my parents wouldn't have made it far enough for me to be born abd survive all the toxins if things were as bad ss people act.

 

[Coiled]

What is an RZ mask?

.01 microns sounds good, at least if you're trying to keep fibers out of your lungs.

Isn't heat required to have lead vapors? I don't reload so no clew of the processes.

 

[easy rider]

Even fumes, which is just smaller particles, may be just under 1 micron. Usually OSHA requires .03 micron respirators for lead fumes. For lead dust it's higher, so you should be more than protected using a .01 micron respirator. Mostly, unless you are grinding or sanding, there would be little dust in the air from handling it (lead dust is heavier than air). The main thing is to wash before handling food. Lead shouldn't absorb into the skin unless you are using solvents.

 

[TheMailMan]

I cast bullets, lures, and reload. Thankfully I'm now shooting outdoors. I have my lead level tested every 12-18 months since Uncle Sam is paying for it, and I've never had a problem.

 

[Rusty Gun]

In my reading it seems like the primers are the worst culprits for introduction lead fumes or gases into the air. apparently the primers have some sort of lead additive that when burnt turns into a gas that can be inhaled. Must be that little cloud of smoke we see at the muzzle.

Most of it settles right to the ground but you could breath it in if range ventilation is inadequate. Also. Note that most ranges do not use brooms to move brass from the shooting area. Brooms make too much dust, they use a rubber squeegee or metal push bar.

Also handling spent brass and the dust from your tumbler could be loaded with lead. I have not been tested but will ask at the next physical.

 

[Vaquero]

In other words, you don't believe the previous posts and call BS.

Please don't ask our experts if you intend to prove otherwise.

Thanks

 

[Rusty Gun]

In other words, you don't believe the previous posts and call BS.

Please don't ask our experts if you intend to prove otherwise.

Thanks

Exactly the opposite... accept everything they have posted including the post about taking precautions like wearing gloves and washing before eating or picking your nose. (Sorry my take on that part).

I did not try to prove anyone wrong just opening a friendly conversation so I could learn from others experiences.

Also did not know that all the posters here were “experts”. So it is good to know they are either respiratory specialist in the medical field, professionals in chemical engineering or other related fields.

For the guy that asked what an RZ mask is I can’t figure out how to post a link (I am not one of the experts) so go to amazon and search “RZ mask”

 

[jrbfishn]

They use metal push sticks and squeegees because brooms are very in efficient at sweeping brass.

Sent by an idjit coffeeholic from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[Coiled]

^^ agreed, straw sweeping brass often doesn't work so well.

For the guy that asked what an RZ mask is I can’t figure out how to post a link (I am not one of the experts) so go to amazon and search “RZ mask”

Why do you assume I'm a guy?

RZ's site says "Get the most stylish reusable filtration mask". F stylish, I want results. If you do too, get protection that is NIOSH approved.

 

[Rusty Gun]

Sorry...I assumed I correctly. My bad
Thanks for the information Ms Coiled. I will investigate NIOSH rated breathing protection.

 

[easy rider]

Exactly the opposite... accept everything they have posted including the post about taking precautions like wearing gloves and washing before eating or picking your nose. (Sorry my take on that part).

I did not try to prove anyone wrong just opening a friendly conversation so I could learn from others experiences.

Also did not know that all the posters here were “experts”. So it is good to know they are either respiratory specialist in the medical field, professionals in chemical engineering or other related fields.

For the guy that asked what an RZ mask is I can’t figure out how to post a link (I am not one of the experts) so go to amazon and search “RZ mask”

I may not be an expert on reloading, but after about 3 decades of arcing lead canning plate, melting lead to pour into omega seal shielding blocks and making my own sinkers for fishing, I've learned a thing or two.

 

[Rusty Gun]

I may not be an expert on reloading, but after about 3 decades of arcing lead canning plate, melting lead to pour into omega seal shielding blocks and making my own sinkers for fishing, I've learned a thing or two.

I appreciate your words of wisdom and am going to look into a .01 micro filter for use while around the dust from my vibratory tumbler. Sounds like you really are the subject matter expert. Thanks for the time you took to post.

 

[easy rider]

Like I said, regular dust will be above 1 micron, fumes possibly under 1 micron but above .03 microns. Also, for sweeping we wet the lead exposed area down, but not too much and used a lead vac.

 

[Charley]

I get a physical once a year and have my blood lead levels checked every two years. I currently run about 3 micrograms per cubic deciliter, pretty much anything below 10 is considered normal levels. I shoot, handload and cast. Pretty much boils down to don't do stupid things, and you won't have a problem. Don't eat or smoke when handling lead (if you do smoke, lead is the least of your worries). Seems the most common ways of exposure are indoor ranges with poor ventilation, and tumbling cases and not controlling the dust. Particulates are a problem, casting is not. Lead melts at just over 600F, volatilization is close to 3000F, so inhalation of lead vapors is almost impossible with proper casting equipment.

 

[Coiled]

Ms Coiled, I kinda like that.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lead/default.html
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0368.html

 

[jrbfishn]

I LOL at that.
One ugly woman at that.


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[Rusty Gun]

Thanks for posting the links. Very good information even though it took a while to navigate through the governments version of information to find what I was looking for. Looks like a respirator rated at N100, R100, or P100 will work for lead exposure.

Wait a minute here... I call her Ms coiled and jrbfishn says she is one ugly woman? To my untrained eye that would seem a little disrespectful.

I was taught that women should be respected placed on a pedestal and there was no such thing as an ugly woman. However personal experience has taught me there are a few that are just barely pretty.

 

[benenglish]

I call her Ms coiled and jrbfishn says she is one ugly woman?

I join with jrbfishn.

Hint - In post #12, you made an assumption. If you do that around here, you'll find people playing with you. Don't get upset; it's part of the culture. And be assured that if you met Coiled, you would also say "That's one ugly woman."

Hint, part deux - The best thing about TGT is the way folks get together in the real world. Come to a meet-up. It's worth the effort.