Thank you for contacting the National Lead Information Center concerning lead safety concerns and safety measures related to firing ranges.
Virtually all ranges mandate both ear and eye protection. Yet very few instructors or ranges require any precautions against lead poisoning, which would indicate that it is not perceived as a serious threat. If you are shooting cast lead bullets, part of this lead is in the form of microscopic particles sheared from the bullet as it passes down the barrel. Lead is also vaporized from the base of cast and partially jacketed bullets by the hot gases of the burning gunpowder. Down range, the bullet impacting on the armor plate emits a spray of fine lead particles. More importantly, the chemical commonly used in most primers is lead styphnate. Detonating the primer discharges a cloud of molecular lead compounds. So the air in a shooting range-even an extremely well ventilated range-tends to contain a lot of lead, both as a dust and a gas It settles in large amounts on the floor, and on other horizontal surfaces as well.
The powder residue you get all over your hands also contains a lot of lead. If you eat with this residue still on your hands, you will contaminate your food with a significant amount of lead. You can also contaminate your food with residue from around your mouth, particularly if you have a mustache. While you are on the range, your breathing concentrates lead around your nose and upper lip, and a mustache will act as a filter to trap the particles and gases.
If you have small children, it is also important to realize that you can carry lead residue home, and contaminate your living quarters or car. You will get the dust on your shoes, on your clothes, on your shooting gear, in your hair It will then be tracked in an settle out on the floor of your home.
Exclusive use of jacketed bullets can prevent much of the lead contamination on ranges. This is much more expensive than using cast-lead reloads, and it may be impossible to arrange or enforce on many ranges. Furthermore, this still leaves the lead from the primer and from the down range impact spray. Over the past few years, most of the major manufacturers have developed lead free primers, as well as totally jacketed bullets or totally lead free (solid copper) bullets. So totally lead free ammunition is now available which will prevent lead contamination all together. Some police ranges have opted for this. However, because this ammunition is significantly more expensive, and lead free primers tend not to be as reliable as lead styphnate primers, it is not in common use.
What to do before leaving the firing range?
When you leave the range, blow your nose, and wash your hands and face immediately with cold soapy water. The cold water closes the pores of your skin, and prevents you washing lead particles into the pores. Thoroughly cleanse the facial area around your mouth, particularly if you have a mustache or beard. Wash your hands and face before you eat anything, and before you smoke. Try to wear an outer garment like a jumpsuit or coverall that you can either have washed after each range session, or leave in your locker. This will prevent you from carrying the lead dust on your clothing into your car and home. Likewise, have a pair of shoes you change out of after you get off the range. If you do go home wearing the same outer clothes you wore on the range, change out of them immediately, and put them in the washer. Washing one’s hair before bedtime is also a good idea, because your hair can hold a lot of dust, and you will transfer it to your pillow every night.
EPA Region two came up with a list of best practices which can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/region02/waste/leadshot/ .
For further information there are a number of informational documents available on our website (
www.epa.gov/lead). If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us at 1-800-424-LEAD.
Sincerely,
