Does anyone here have their blood checked for lead

[rojawe]

a Friend of mine emailed and said he was getting checked since he shoots in a indoor range. Have you or have you thought about this.

[Timothy]

Never!

I'd personally be more worried about the paint in my home!

Edit...I'll note that my range doesn't allow anything but jacketed ammo for use indoors and is properly ventilated.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-136/pdfs/2009-136.pdf

[Solus]

If you cast your own bullets or reload cast bullets without wearing gloves, it might be wise to check it also.

[1Buckshot]

I have a friend that cast bullets for a living and his employees have to be checked twice a year. He has been open for eight years now and there has been no elevated lead readings in there blood. I would think that the every day shooter ad reloader will have no problem ether.
 After your done sitting around and wasting time here, Go check out his products at his web page. Rim Rock Bullets
http://www.rimrockbullets.net/catalog/

Monty,

[mauler]

About 5 years or so ago, I had a hair sample checked for heavy metal and vitamin and mineral levels.  I was somewhat elevated in lead, but not in the danger range.  I was a little above the safe range for antimony.  I shoot lead bullets, and at the time I was shooting a once a month indoor ipsc match.  I did some chelation, but I have not had my hair checked again.  I think you should be very careful about washing your hands thoroughly after reloading.

[Sponsor]

[kmitch200]

I think you should be very careful about washing your hands thoroughly after reloading.

+1
And after handling/buying stuff at the indoor range store, shooting, cleaning guns, loading mags, etc.  I always use nitrile gloves when gun cleaning. 
 
After firefighting/ems for 31 years, I'm almost OCD about handwashing after exposure to any kind of chemicals or snottin', sneezin' people and their kids.   

[MikeBjerum]

Basics of lead safety:

1.  If you cast bullets have good ventilation;
2.  When ever you handle or work with lead - casting, sizing, reloading, etc. have protective clothes that are worn just for that (tyvek coveralls are inexpensive, light weight, comfortable, cool, and can be used multiple times);
3.  Always wash hands and face after handling or working with lead;
4.  Shower and change clothes after a trip to the range - indoor or outdoor;
5.  Carry some type of disposable wet wipes in your range bag to clean up with during and after shooting;
6.  Never handle infants or young children before bathing and/or while wearing range clothes after shooting.

These are just some of the basics to live by.  On one hand it is very simple to protect ourselves from lead, and it is not that dangerous.  But at the same time a little carelessness goes a long way.  I have dealt with many hazardous substances in my life, and lead is one of them.  I have always been trained that the two largest dangers are inhalation (ventilation and particulate mask in some cases) and ingestion (contaminated hands to mouth, nose or handling food - don't open your pop and water bottles or cans with your dirty hands*)

*  Note that I didn't say anything about adult beverages?  That is because you don't mix alcohol and anything shooting STUPID!!!

[Timothy]

After firefighting/ems for 31 years, I'm almost OCD about hand washing after exposure to any kind of chemicals or snottin', sneezin' people and their kids.   

It was 11 years in the nuclear industry that did that for me!  You wash your hands BEFORE and AFTER using the restroom.  It's rather embarrassing to have someone survey your pecker for contamination!

 

It makes a TSA junk rub seem like, well, normal!

[alfsauve]

Several very active USPSA shooters in Atlanta had elevated lead levels.  Understand these are guys who shoot 2 indoor matches a week, year in-year out.  And the primary range they used wasn't all that well ventilated.   They were also ROs so besides their own lead spray, they were inhaling other shooters' as well. 

That particular range now prohibits un-jacketed rounds for down range "matches".

I asked my doctor and she said that since I had no symptoms of lead poisoning, she couldn't "prescribe" the blood test, at least not and have the insurance company pay for it.  Since my level of shooting participation on the suspect range is rather low, she said it's highly unlikely I would have a problem.

Still, because of the smoke and haze created when shooting lead, I've switched to all jacketed or plated rounds.  On my home range the ventilation is very good, but it's still nice not having to sight through a fog.

[MikeBjerum]

Several very active USPSA shooters in Atlanta had elevated lead levels.  Understand these are guys who shoot 2 indoor matches a week, year in-year out.  And the primary range they used wasn't all that well ventilated.   They were also ROs so besides their own lead spray, they were inhaling other shooters' as well. 

That particular range now prohibits un-jacketed rounds for down range "matches".

I asked my doctor and she said that since I had no symptoms of lead poisoning, she couldn't "prescribe" the blood test, at least not and have the insurance company pay for it.  Since my level of shooting participation on the suspect range is rather low, she said it's highly unlikely I would have a problem.

Still, because of the smoke and haze created when shooting lead, I've switched to all jacketed or plated rounds.  On my home range the ventilation is very good, but it's still nice not having to sight through a fog.

Have been in to be checked for post potty room nuclear contamination 

OK, between that and the post on the other thread I am going to just head to the corner on my own ... Beers cold come on over.