Question about lead exposure

[CustomR]

Hey All,

I am new to the forum and to shooting.

I purchased my first firearm this week. and went directly to the local indoor range. They had no instructors available so my brother showed me how to work everything and I got to shooting around 50 rounds and dry sweeping the casings.

My question and worry is about lead. I have a decently heavy beard and did not know to wash off before coming home. I was with my 8 month old baby for the rest of that evening with a beard presumably full of lead dust. (and my shoes and jeans probably dropped some dust to the carpets as well).

I am really nervous now about lead exposure for the baby. I know the internet can make a person crazy with panic- I am not worried about myself- but I have read that a small baby may have heightened levels of lead from even a small amount of exposure.

Can anybody with some scientific knowledge of this tell me whether it would be prudent to test the baby's lead levels ?

Thanks!

 

[savagedasher]

I would ask your doctor. Larry

 

[lawrence97]

While assigned to a firearms range, we got checked once a year for lead levels.
I bet just one outing didn't do a thing....

 

[Lapua40X]

I would ask your doctor. Larry

Ditto .... not only will you feel better but your doctor can explain degrees of lead exposure and its symptoms.
Always pleased to know that young fathers put their children first.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Glad to see your concern but i agree with all the above. Not much exposure there but your doctor can check it. Be careful with that badass viking beard- jealousy is a bitch.

 

[NewLiberty]

By your worries I should have been dead forty years ago.

 

[Darrel Martin]

Most lead poisoning comes from organic or inorganic lead compounds not lead in it's metallic form. Lead based paint has been the main source of poisoning in children,resulting from kids eating chips of paint in old houses built before lead was removed from house paint. In gunshot wounds we remove anything easily located but often leave all or part of the bullet as it is low risk. Personally I think California's law restricting lead bullets is more to harass than protect. I think the main source of heavy metal contamination in the environment is coal, at least that is how it gets into fish.

 

[KRP]

Does anyone know where to find the story about Walt Berger's dog and the lead testing? I asked the Google and didn't see it.

 

[K22]

I don't want to be an alarmist, I shoot a lot of lead bullets in my revolvers but this can be an issue so some reasonable precautions should be taken.

The indoor range should have an exhaust system (fans) that blows (sucks) the smoke containing lead residue away from the shooters to the outside.

The least lead exposure you receive the better since it accumulates in the body. I'm not a doctor but I would certainly discuss this with your doctor.

I don't know of any shooter who suffered from lead poisoning. However many years ago there was an extensive article in the Pittsburgh Press about a man who suffered severe lead poisoning from breathing the vapor during the casting of bullets in his basement without any ventilation. It eventually caused his death.

You many want to use copper plated bullets for indoor shooting to be on the safe side especially if your indoor range does not have an effective exhaust system. However if other shooters are using lead bullets you could still be exposed.

 

[Catfur]

Most of the lead in the air from indoor ranges comes from the lead-based priming compound (some from vaporization of the lead base of a bullet, FMJ or not, unless even the base is jacketed). In just one session, though, it's almost inconceivable that you or son got a measurable dose.

It is a worry for people who actually work at a range all day, every day. Even for those, an effective ventilation system will drastically mitigate the issue.

 

[joshb]

I grew up in an old house built in the 1700 and 1800s. I may have eaten some paint chips. Been fishing all my life ,handled and bit down on countless split shot sinkers. Been reloading since 1975. I'm 58 and still going, without much I'll affect, though my wife may disagree. Take some precautions around the kids but don't freak out about it.

 

[Outrider27]

What Darrel Martin and Catfur said. Don't worry or be alarmed, just do as joshb said and take precautions around your child. Those precautions aren't complicated, just common hygiene - wash your hands afterwards, and, in your case, your beard, before playing with your child or eating anything. These simple precautions have kept me lead free for 71 years, that and adequate ventilation when I cast lead soldiers as a kid or many, many bullets later in life.

 

[savagedasher]

I wouldn't take any other person advice. A simple phone call is all that is needed.
Merry Christmas. Larry

 

[ratguner]

Much like the others have said; BUT, if worried, why not mitigate as much as possible? It cant hurt and will give you peace of mind.
Definitely wash your hands when finished shooting. Change clothes and shower when you get home from the range.
Then, ENJOY your baby!!!

 

[msinc]

Like others, I believe any lead restrictions are either harassment or something to generate money...like with ducks. There has never been a confirmed waterfowl, or any other wildlife die of known lead poisoning because we didn't use steel shot.
That said, I am 54, been casting, cleaning, melting, fluxing, sizing, handling, working with and shooting lead all my life. Both bullets and shot and while it might be questionable as to my sanity at present, both of my kids are completely normal.
I have to say, if lead exposure worries you this much {you went shooting one time and you think your kid might get poisoned off your beard????} I really think the only way you will be comfortable is to get out of the shooting sport. Not being facetious, it's not a crime to want to be careful and nobody will think any less of you.

 

[JRS]

Your best bet as a concerned parent would be to consult your doctor. Children get lead poisoning much easier than adults. Those little fingers rubbing your beard, then going directly into that little mouth is not a good thing.

 

[NewLiberty]

I think a Hazmat suit and respirator are in order.

 

[ballistic64]

I never really heard too much about lead poisoning back before lead was condemned as a harmful substance. It was in paint, childrens toys, pencils (before graphite), certain dishes people ate out of, and so on and so on. The bottom line is, anything you can do to avoid ingestion through contact or respiration is the smart choice. Personally, at 51 yrs old, it doesn't concern me too much.

 

[Jet]

CustomR

I work on ranges for the DoD (currently all outdoor ranges). We have a lot of regulatory guidance reference your question which we have to adhere to.

As a recreational shooter with kids recommend two things to mitigate the small risks associated with the contaminants you might be exposed to.

1. Shower when you get home prior to interacting with your child
2. Wash your range clothes seperatly from all other household clothing

Good Shooting

Rich

 

[CustomR]

Thanks all, I had just read about how you should wash the clothes separately, so not having washed up at all- and not removing my shoes or pants after sweeping made me a bit panicked.

Glad to see your concern but i agree with all the above. Not much exposure there but your doctor can check it. Be careful with that badass viking beard- jealousy is a bitch.

Thanks! it is not Viking certified yet- give me a few months.

I plan on asking the doc. but, I live in NYC where it is not common at all to own a firearm and he will have no idea about how much lead is expelled the way y'all might.

I have to say, if lead exposure worries you this much {you went shooting one time and you think your kid might get poisoned off your beard????} I really think the only way you will be comfortable is to get out of the shooting sport. Not being facetious, it's not a crime to want to be careful and nobody will think any less of you.

I completely agree with you. I got the pistol for one reason only- to protect my family and myself from harm- I believe that the 2nd amendment affords me that right- (though many in my neck of the woods will disagree). I am way too neurotic to go to the range all the time- but I do need to know how to shoot safely. This was a one time mistake I'd think nothing of if I hadn't read all the warnings after the fact.

I wouldn't take any other person advice. A simple phone call is all that is needed.
Merry Christmas. Larry

Usually I'd agree- but the knowledge of these things is very limited here.

CustomR

I work on ranges for the DoD (currently all outdoor ranges). We have a lot of regulatory guidance reference your question which we have to adhere to.

As a recreational shooter with kids recommend two things to mitigate the small risks associated with the contaminants you might be exposed to.

1. Shower when you get home prior to interacting with your child
2. Wash your range clothes seperatly from all other household clothing

Good Shooting

Rich

Going forward I definitely plan to do this and have "range clothes".

I was just worried about the one time, I will be a lot more careful now.

While I was shooting FMJ, I dry swept a lot of other stuff I'm sure.

I wish I had access to an outdoor range!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.