Question on "lead poisoning"

[Slamfire]

I have had lead poisoning and I can tell you after that you are much more likely to get it from shooting indoors in an inadequately ventilated range than you are from loading thousands of bullets. I do agree that you don't want to breath in the dust or eat it but that can be controlled by a little cleaning. BTW symptoms were tired all the time and joint pain. I was tested and it took better than six months of shooting outside to limit exposure to get me below the danger level. I did not have to have the chelation therapy because I was 2 points below critical. Good shooting.


I had shot at the same indoor range for years before the problem occurred. The reason for the sudden lead mess was the exhaust fans had been rewired recently and they go the wires crossed somehow so that the fans were exhausting behind the line instead of blowing into the range. The "out" vents were at the far end of the range which, with the fans runnng backwards, proabably had cleaner air than the firing line. The range went almost 4 months in this condition until I brought it to the owner's attention. It waa fixed the next week. I was also spending about 4hours per day 6 days a week training for upcoming bullseye competitions.

I am glad you are not suffering any long term affects. Would you share just how high the lead levels got in your blood?

 

[blue32]

I had myself tested about 6 months ago just because I was curious. My level was right at 25dL. There were no symptoms that I was aware of. My doc told me to cut my shooting in half and asked what range I went to. When I told him he said he knew the owner and would contact him about their ventilation system.

I don't think it had as much to do with the ventilation system at my range (although it is a factor), as it did with tumbling brass. I have since started to wear a mask when operating the tumbler or otherwise around just tumbled brass. I plan to get retested in a few months. I once read from another poster who supported the belief of getting their blood checked yearly and thought it wise considering the consequences if it gets out of control. It also brings awareness to doctors who in my case looked at me strange when I first brought up the topic of getting my blood checked for lead.

 

[orionengnr]

Unless you tumble brass without a lid on the tumbler, in your bedroom, on the bed, while sleeping naked, rolling around in the media and brass all night, I don't see how you got a blood lead level of 24.

The first year I started handloading I tumbled probably 20k rounds (I had been picking up range brass and buying it on the 'net for two+ years prior). All of it was done in my garage. No gloves, no mask, no Ebola suit.

That same year I started having my blood lead level tested. It was a 4. These days I take the tumbler outside to dump/sort. I wear nitrile gloves (when I think about it). I shoot at an indoor range almost every week year-round. I load all my own ammo.

My last lead check was a 1, which is where it has been for the last five years.

The thread linked in post #4 contains some very good info. A long read, but worthwhile.

If there is any very fine dust (fine enough to be airborn if there is a gust in the room) you may consider wearing an old pair of clothes with goggles and a mask and showering after your done, just to be safe.

Disregard this statement, and the entirety of post #8. He admits he is not a reloader, but is dispensing advice on the safety precautions to use while reloading. Goggles, mask, gloves, dedicated clothing, are all unnecessary. Concerns about open cuts are unfounded. As stated previously (several times) be concerned with ingestion and inhalation, but don't be ridiculous about it.