Blood tests for lead done.

[Idaho45guy]

Went in for my physical a couple of weeks ago and had every possible test done.

Told the doc that I cast bullets and reload ammunition as well as shoot about once a week or so and she wanted to test me for lead exposure.

A couple of days before the test, I had cast bullets for my dad's side business so I went through 190lbs of lead in two days. About 4400 bullets. I also shot a couple of hundred rounds and reloaded a couple of hundred rounds as well.

I have poor lead handling habits, I admit. Will cast for a couple of hours and then go outside and smoke without washing my hands.

I was a little concerned about lead exposure, to be honest.

But, lead level was 4.2 with normal range 0.0 - 10.0.

[shoot-n-lead]

Good news!

[runfiverun]

sounds about right.

[Mytmousemalibu]

Unless you are taste testing your work, stirring your tea with the dross spoon or sprinkling lead oxide on your sundae, you're probably not going to be too bad. Messing around with leaded dust is where people stand to soak it up.

[too many things]

you get that much from what you eat.

[Scharfschuetze]

Yep, good news. In the early 90s I worked in a facility with an indoor rifle range. We tried to shoot several times a week during the lunch hour when we were not deployed or otherwise tasked. We also mined the backstop and smelted the lead right in the range due to its high volume ventilation.

We had to have our blood tested annually due to our lead exposure. Our test results were about the same as the OPs. A modicum of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to lead poisoning.

[fixit]

what? you mean it's not "highly toxic" like the news people, and others, try to tell us? surely they wouldn't mislead us like that!! :kidding:

[Hogtamer]

I did the same thing last month, for the same reason, same results and I cast and loaded a lot of "hands on" buckshot and slugs.

[Idaho45guy]

I'm 80lbs overweight, have smoked menthols for 25 years, drink almost daily, and eat awful food. I decided to change my diet and start regular exercise and quit drinking so much. Went to the doc to have the complete physical done to see just how bad of shape I was in and the doc was amazed at all of my results; completely normal and healthy in every way except for cholesterol around 200. Blood tests showed everything perfect, lungs healthy, normal blood pressure, etc. She was mad that it was so good and that I was so bad...

Still, I have been eating healthier for a couple of weeks, going to the gym and walking every day, and only have a couple of social drinks on the weekend. Figured I have been pushing my luck for far too long...

[Wayne Smith]

what? you mean it's not "highly toxic" like the news people, and others, try to tell us? surely they wouldn't mislead us like that!! :kidding:

It is Highly Toxic - in concentration and in kids. Don't loose sight that all heavy metals are toxic and tend to build up in the bones. We are playing with a toxic substance, and I grow artisima which is poison and many have digitalis in the flower garden - a terrible poison. The gasoline in my gallon can for my lawnmower is more explosive than all my gunpowder.

[dverna]

I did the same when I was casting a lot. Did not have a problem. But it is good to check it out.

BTW, I think you get more lead into your system from shooting in poorly ventilated indoor ranges than by casting or handling lead bullets. This was over 40 years ago, but my mentor tested high. He was a competitive Bullseye shooter and back then most ranges were poorly ventilated....at least the ones we shot at.

[runfiverun]

like Wayne mentioned all heavy metals are toxic.
if you do a quick search on iron toxicity you'll probably come up with a chart or something on it's conditions and symptoms.

I'd rather have lead poisoning.

[Scharfschuetze]

Still, I have been eating healthier for a couple of weeks, going to the gym and walking every day, and only have a couple of social drinks on the weekend. Figured I have been pushing my luck for far too long...


Good on you Idaho45. I've watched my diet closely and exercised regularly all my life and yet I still have to watch my blood pressure. Go figure.

[dmccord]

I just started casting 3 years ago, for the most part I think i am doing ok. I powder coat so I do nto get any exposure when I am loading. I only wear the mask when I am purifying scrap lead and I do it all purifying outside and I cast in my pole barn with both big doors open and if there is no wind I run a big fan.
I went in for my yearly blood tests for my suger and I asked my doctor to include a lead test. it came back 5. He said it was not great but not dangerous. Asked me if I was doing all the safety stuff. I said most of the time, I did start wearing gloves again but I just can not keep that mask on for hours and hours. I cast slower than some say they do. Some guys say they can do hundreds of bullets in a hour. I can spend around 3 hours (most I can sit there at one time) and can empty my 20lb pot a couple times if I am doing a heavy bullet like 230 or 255 grain but if I am doing 155 grain for 38 or 357 I can only empty the pot once in that time.

From what I am reading in this forum that 1-10 is safe I am fine at a reading of 5.

[John Boy]

About 5 years ago, my count ws 12 and I got a telephone call from the State Dept of Health ... 'what did you do to have the count so high (OSHA says 20 and under)? Told him I cast toy lead soldiers and like to lick my fingers

[Idz]

The OSHA limits for lead workers to 'watch' is 40 and 'action required' is 60 ug/dl . Overseas OSHA type groups are about the same. The problem is some labs set arbitrary 'normal' limits much lower.

[RogerDat]

Good to have a base line so you can detect if it goes up. Can help pinpoint activities that are increasing exposure. For me I'm pretty sure it was vibrating polisher dust.
Also vitamin C is supposed to aid body in excreting lead. If you want to bring those numbers down.

[hendere]

I tested at 23 recently. I believe that I am careful both when casting and shooting. I've quit shooting inside and have starting wearing gloves when loading. We'll see what happens. I'm not sure if I'm real worried either way.

[Bzcraig]

Excellent outcome but please change that habit.

[RogerDat]

I tested at 23 recently. I believe that I am careful both when casting and shooting. I've quit shooting inside and have starting wearing gloves when loading. We'll see what happens. I'm not sure if I'm real worried either way. 23 is a bit elevated, trend line is more significant when things start to elevate. That and identification of what the source of exposure is so one can modify that activity. Shooting inside might be it in your case.

If you stop shooting indoors and a re-test shows a drop there is your trend line and activity.

Look into chelation (removal) by consumption of vitamin C http://www.lead.org.au/lanv10n2/lanv10n2-2.html or http://www.lead.org.au/lanv10n2/lanv10n2-2.html some suggest mega doses, but most research indicates mega doses orally just make expensive urine. I figure a daily C doesn't hurt and has been shown to reduce absorption and increase excretion in at least some individuals. As with all internet advice do your own confirmation and your mileage may vary.

[dondiego]

Vitamin C is easily taken in by consumption of orange juice and vodka makes it go down a lot smoother.

[THBailey]

I am a textbook case of terrible lead protocol. I cast a bunch, boolits, sinkers and jigs. I used to do the casting in the garage with no flow through ventilation, although now I do it on an outside porch with a fan blowing. I do a ton of shooting, though at outdoor ranges. I fish a bunch, biting split shot closed and also biting 1/8 inch lead wire to swage it to my line. I do spit afterwords. Been doing these things my entire adult life, in my 60's now. My lead levels have always tested well within limits. My take is solid lead is not particularly absorbable, rather lead compounded in absorbable mixtures is the problem. Then again I do down copious quantities of vodka and orange juice, maybe that IS THE SECRET!!

[Engineer1911]

I am a typical small time bullet caster and shooter. 18 years ago I spent considerable time at an indoor range, now all my shooting is at an outdoor range. I now live in an early 1950's vintage house that may have copper piping and lead solder. My lead blood level was 21.1 μg/dL . I'm getting the kitchen water tested in 2 samples, from the faucet and from the refrigerator door that has a carbon filter for the ice maker.

If the water is a problem, my wife will get a blood test also.

[dannyd]

60 lbs of smokeless powder = 1 gallon of gasoline

[THBailey]

I am a typical small time bullet caster and shooter. 18 years ago I spent considerable time at an indoor range, now all my shooting is at an outdoor range. I now live in an early 1950's vintage house that may have copper piping and lead solder. My lead blood level was 21.1 μg/dL . I'm getting the kitchen water tested in 2 samples, from the faucet and from the refrigerator door that has a carbon filter for the ice maker.

If the water is a problem, my wife will get a blood test also.

So, how did the water test out? When we lived in an old copper pipe soldered house we heard that might be a problem. The recommendation then was to let the water run a while before drawing any off for drinking or cooking.

[JohnH]

I have thought this topic asinine since I first saw it pop up here some years ago. Do a search, it's been discussed quite a few times. Considering the recent lead poisoning disaster in Flint, Michigan's water system, I tend to think that we are in more danger of being poisoned by the ineptitude of government officials than we are of poisoning ourselves.

[Lloyd Smale]

Mine was 41 at one time. I did the pill deal for it twice to get it down. that was about 15 years ago. Had it checked last summer and it was at 15. Doc said that was borderline on whether I should go through the pill deal again or not. I didn't bother. I was a sloppy lead handler and shot indoors a lot. I don't shoot any indoor matches any more and haven't for years. I'm not what you would call an anal lead handler but am a bit more careful then I was for the first 20 years I casted. Just don't think that it cant happen to you.

[6622729]

No, lead is highly toxic! The difference is that it can be properly handled to minimize the risk. Thank goodness they simply haven't taken that away from us too. I'm sick and tired of everything in my life being controlled, limited or eliminated due to needing to protect people from themselves, reducing everything for the safety of the least common denominator. Some people shouldn't drive cars. Some shouldn't reload, some shouldn't have guns and some shouldn't cast boolits.




what? you mean it's not "highly toxic" like the news people, and others, try to tell us? surely they wouldn't mislead us like that!! :kidding:

[old woody]

Many years ago when I was a kid my Dad felt tired all the time & luckily our family doctor was a friend of my Dad's (my Dad custom built the Doctors home). My Dad did the plumbing, electrical etc. The Doctor tested Dad's blood for lead poisoning & treated him for it. Made a world of difference in how my Dad felt. Back then plumbers used a lot of lead casting in drain pipes in basements. Due to that I don't cast, but buy cast bullets (which I love to shoot) from suppliers.

[rototerrier]

Just got tested and received a 5 mcg/dl result. I cast indoor under a vent hood that exhausts to the outside. I cast about 8k per year and shoot close to that much. Guess I'm doing ok.

[sw282]

Mine tested @ 39 last year when l turned 70... I last cast in Aug 2016 app 100 lb of 44 boolits from my H&G 503... 0nly about 10 lb of them left before its time to cast again... l shoot a couple hund rds a week indoors with 90% being CAST 44s.. l have taken no steps to reduce lead content since being checked, except the break in casting.. Scheduled for another physical in a month or so and will have the lead levels checked again...

[woodbutcher]

:shock: Last that I knew,the fumes from one quart of gasoline=15 sticks of dynamite.Happy 4th of July.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Geezer in NH]

Great test now "WASH Your HANDS" Did your mother not tell you this before dinner???? Gesh smoking same as eating WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE! :killingpc Please learn and stay alive for us and your family.

[jerry6stl]

I've cast for 30+ years, and my blood tests fine. Ventilation is important.

[max it]

HI Ya, its the shooting indoors:
after i got a 17ug/dl back and requisite calls from Cal OSHA
my Dr. researched it and found that the indoor range expels lead styphnate from the primers. and that is the worst offender.
now bear in mind that i am of a Super Senior or so says the Glock GSSF and that may have some bearing on the case.
anyway i smelt, cast, loaded for several years.
Over 50ug/dl means your brains start to be affected.

[Tripplebeards]

I got a little paranoid after smelting 6 hours a day for two weeks and did some research how to prevent lead poisoning and lower the lead level blood streams and came up with a product called Yerba prima bentonite detox. After the second morning (TMI) my number two looked dusty blue like oxidized lead.

It's basically clay and all natural. For $13 I figured it was worth a try. It apparently absorbs all the foreign metals in your body and exits in your bowls...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Yerba-Prima-Great-Plains-Bentonite-Detox-32Ounce/26957710?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227018408200&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=t&wl3=51757644551&wl4=pla-83182365791&wl5=9019252&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=26957710&wl13=&veh=sem

[Rainier]

Good job with a low blood lead level!

The challenge, as I see it anyway, we face as both casters and shooters is what is referred to as “Chronic Exposure”. Sadly, when we are exposed to lead some it is shunted into the skeletal structure where it can be stored for over 10 years. Not a lot of good testing available to determine if someone has suffered chronic exposure either.

As mentioned Vitamin C supplementation is good on a couple of different levels. A natural chelating agent is coriander / cilantro, it has been shown to act as natural lead chelating agent in both animal and human studies. The best defense of course is exposure mitigation - i.e. don’t use your teeth as a hardness tester.

[whisler]

My doctor advised that a good test for chronic exposure is a hair analysis.

[Rainier]

whisler
My doctor advised that a good test for chronic exposure is a hair analysis.

Hair analysis can be good but the challenge is making sure there are no contaminants on the hair. Another possible good test is the finger nail test but again you have to be careful not to contaminate the sample. What some Doc’s like to use is a provocation or “provoked” test using EDTA as a chelation agent followed by 6 hour urine testing. Sadly, from the data I’ve read, it appears that even with the test results you may not get a clear picture of the extent of the exposure.
Again, the best defense is always exposure mitigation - have fun and be careful out there!

[tucumcari_kid]

Went in for my physical a couple of weeks ago and had every possible test done.

Told the doc that I cast bullets and reload ammunition as well as shoot about once a week or so and she wanted to test me for lead exposure.

A couple of days before the test, I had cast bullets for my dad's side business so I went through 190lbs of lead in two days. About 4400 bullets. I also shot a couple of hundred rounds and reloaded a couple of hundred rounds as well.

I have poor lead handling habits, I admit. Will cast for a couple of hours and then go outside and smoke without washing my hands.

I was a little concerned about lead exposure, to be honest.

But, lead level was 4.2 with normal range 0.0 - 10.0.

The worrysome combination for me is the smoking and lead. Have seen the same thing with asbestos and mesothelioma -- workers who smoke on their breaks or on their way home. If there is any transfer to the cigarette, it is going through your lungs straight to the blood stream. My wife always complains about my safety habits, but I think there would have to be a lot more than occasional exposure.