When I had my 6 month checkup and diabetic blood drawn in November, I had them screen my lead level. It was 18. Should be less than 5! At 19 they have to start treatment. I'm taking 1,000 MG of Vitamin C every day. That helps flush it from your system.

So I've been more careful cleaning and reloading. Wearing gloves and immediately washing up with D-Lead hand cleaner. Let me tell you. It is hard to reload .38 special on a Dillon 650 with gloves on!

I get it checked again in the middle of January.

Ouch! Definitely keep an eye on that!

Time for a bullet feeder? Or coated lead?

It’s hard to imagine you can get that much from the shooting sport.

Reckon this would work.

quote:

Originally posted by olfuzzy:
Reckon this would work.

Thanks. I may have to try that.
I'm hoping that all the once shot, hulls I was keeping under my desk might have contributed to the rise. I kept them there to clean when I was on boring conference calls prior to reloading.

It’s not just handling...

What do you shoot ammo wise?

Non FMJ as in lead casts can increase your levels.

I assume your cowboy loads are lead cast with no jacket? Low powder so you get a lot of incomplete burn? Lingering smoke?

Another reason I reload via FedEx.

Hope you get it all flushed out and find the cause of the high levels.

Rolan, you may want to wear a dust mask as well. It doesn’t take much. Be very careful!

quote:

Originally posted by beltfed21:
Rolan, you may want to wear a dust mask as well. It doesn’t take much. Be very careful!

Yeah, I have dust masks too... NOW

You can lower the lead levels significantly by doing what I did. Stop licking the paint!

Had mine checked at my last blood work. It was "9", and my doctor was a little freaked. She said to lower my exposure by wearing gloves when reloading and cleaning my guns.

There are a few guys wearing respirator masks at the indoor bullseye match I shoot at weekly.

A lot of the old range guys from the big city PD I worked for came down with it. One of them said was from inhaling lead, mostly from the lead styphnate used in the primers released when the detonated, and maybe lead dust from bullets hitting the backing plates. Just handling lead bullets wasn't the cause. Maybe vapors from casting your own bullets might do it.

quote:

Originally posted by MFW:
A lot of the old range guys from the big city PD I worked for came down with it. One of them said was from inhaling lead, mostly from the lead styphnate used in the primers released when the detonated, and maybe lead dust from bullets hitting the backing plates.

This is likely the cause in RK's case.

quote:

Originally posted by MFW:
Just handling lead bullets wasn't the cause.

If can be transferred hand-to-mouth, though.

quote:

Originally posted by MFW:
Maybe vapors from casting your own bullets might do it.

You don't heat lead to its boiling point when casting, do you?

Rolan...wear gloves (that you can dispose of) after setting up and taking down the targets and especially the stands...the target stands receive a shitload of lead dust from the thousands of rounds at each shoot...watch the lead oxide/graphite dust when pouring shot out of a bag...I fill my bottles with shot outside while wearing a dust mask. I keep my boots in bags in the garage...I wash my pants and shirts with a lot of detergent after each shoot, twice...watch your hats...a lot of lead dust from shooting and ejecting rounds land on that hat...a lot can come off your clothes, hats and shoes/boots...

I would think that you are exposed to more lead by handling the targets and stands at set up and take down of the shoots...wipe a white rag over the targets (especially shotgun) and stands a see what comes off ...

Wipe down your reloading press, bench and floor with rags with a lot of laundry detergent...even the carpet...

My lead levels have been low...I think 6 was the highest it's ever been...

I'm overly cautious with lead.

What's that under the desk stuff. Volatile dust?

Almost a year ago, during my physical, I asked my Doctor to run a lead test. Told him I was doing more indoor matches than in the past and just wanted a baseline test. Came back at 21.8 which was down to about 8.5 by September. It been a long road to get it to 8.5 which I attribute to reducing my indoor match participation and indoor practicing by 80%. I’m hoping next month it will be close 4-5 when I go in for my next Phyiscal. BTW, I also had my wife and daughter tested for lead (they were fine), my water etc at my house which all proved negative. I was picking it up from shooting.

I don’t reload but did shoot a lot indoors and during practice and matches scooped up brass with my hands. I also believe that not all indoor ranges are created equal and some have better Ventilation than others.

I now have lead wipes in my range bag, the cab of my truck, lead soap in two places at home etc etc. It takes quite a bit of time and mitigation to get it out once in your system.

A couple years ago I had been reloading a lot which included bullet casting and lubing. My wife was concerned so when I got my physical she had them run a screen for lead. I don't remember what it was but my doctor said it was well within normal ranges

My FIL damn near died from LP. Went into the hospital and the Doc's ran every test known to man, MIL said, "have you tested him for LP?" They ran the test and sure enough, he was critical from LP. All indoor shooting and lot's of reloading was the culprit. Nothing to screw with, fella's.

quote:

Originally posted by Rolan_Kraps:

quote:

Originally posted by beltfed21:
Rolan, you may want to wear a dust mask as well. It doesn’t take much. Be very careful!

Yeah, I have dust masks too... NOW

This was going to be my suggestion. While indoor ranges can move the air down range, outdoors, you don't have that luxury. It goes where the wind blows. And if you shoot often...

The county tested all of the local indoor ranges for air quality and several were terrible. Employees were exhibiting signs of lead poisoning. These ranges have since beefed up their ventilation. I wonder if you shoot a lot indoors if you can have the air tested at the range on a busy day?