Grumpy's Toy Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I just had my doctor run my blood for the first time last week. The health department just notified me and said my level is 24mcg/dl. and should be around 2mcg/dl. Anyone else this high? I'm wondering if its that high because I shoot indoors twice a week, or because I reload in my garage. Never would have thought that reloading plated bullets would be that bad for our health. Any input would be helpfull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve L Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 tumble youre brass outside would be a start. I'm about to get an air purifier for my reloading room since I just moved and reload in the house now as opposed to my old garage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 (edited) I just googled "lead" and found out that: 1. the measurements are bit confusing in my "leaden state" - easy to mix up mcg/dl's with other meaurements - when you read up on it - be positive you're talking about similar measurements 2. they say symptoms don't show up below 25 mcg/dl, but 25 - 60 can produce some long term symptoms. The real problems, apparently, start at 60. Not sure it's the plated bullets - sounds to me like it's more the shooting indoors? I would imagine that if you're shooting in a commercial range, esp. in Calif, that they should have pretty good ventilation in place?? Also, possible that you have a badly done lab test - I'd wait a month or two and try it again - see if you still have high lead levels. I'd sure cut out something - either the indoor shooting or the plated bullets, at least for a while until you can get your lead levels down. Good luck with it. Edited January 12, 2013 by Hi-Power Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lugnut Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Indoor, indoor, indoor. Unless your are sucking your finger while reloading that's not the problem. Never tumble or sift indoors either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I won't shoot indoors. If your tumbler seals, not a big deal to run it indoors, but the dust is leaded when you sift. Ever had a sweet taste in your mouth when sifting out the brass from media? That is lead. There are multiple threads on the same topic here on Enos. I run a shop vac in between me and the sifter when I dump out the tumbler and when I am sifting. The vac filter goes in a bag and sealed. If you do it outdoors, you are creating a location that will eventually be harmful to kids, dogs, etc. Here is the article I have posted in other threads: http://dfuse.us/lead.html Don't take it lightly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Donate blood on a regular basis. It helps others and reduces your lead level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Juice? Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 HEPA 3um absolute air filter runs 24/7 in my reloading area. Even though I shoot fully encapsulated bullets. CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN.... Washed brass has less leading residue in it than dry tumbled. Plus all my tumbling is done outside. Indoor Ranges... I try to limit my exposure to lead by only going there 3 times a year. My lead levels are very low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I seriuosly doubt that the reloading indoors is causing the high levels, I would lay more blame on shooting indoors three times a week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Donate blood on a regular basis. It helps others and reduces your lead level. Lets avoid ignorance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lugnut Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Donate blood on a regular basis. It helps others and reduces your lead level. Clearly you are joking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lugnut Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Keep this in mind if you shoot indoors for action shooting. Most clubs' ventilation systems are designed to pull smoke down range or up just down range of shooting areas. Problem is when we are shooting USPSA or IDPA indoors we're often literally running into our own smoke. Not good. FWIW, and I've posted this before on this forum- I was at 56. I was bummed. I stopped shooting indoors and my lead levels WITHOUT changing anything else went into the teens or very low 20s. My terrible headaches went away! Only other thing I do is use a respirator filter when sifting the tumbled brass.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee blackman Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Did your doctor recommend chelation therapy? Also do you get enough calcium in your diet? It won't help if the lead is already in your blood, but calcium slows the absorption rate of lead. Probably wouldn't hurt to drink alot of milk regularly or take supplements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy's Toy Posted January 13, 2013 Author Share Posted January 13, 2013 Thanks for the article MarkCO. When I shoot at this one indoor range, I have noticed that sweet taste your talking about. Problem is in California, because of all their stupid gun laws, there are only a few places left to shoot. The closest outdoor range is 45 min's away and expensive to go twice a week with the price of gas. Thanks for all the help guys, this site is the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Sweet taste is definitely not a good sign and definitely indicates lead. What's the problem with donating blood? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 The closest outdoor range is 45 min's away and expensive to go twice a week . Grump, I'm in central Florida (eternal sunshine) and the nearest outdoor range is 45 - 50 minutes away, and I'd rather go there ONE time / week than go to an indoor range TWO times / week. I'm shocked that an indoor range in CALIF has inadequate ventilation ... With all those restrictive laws, I would have guessed that indoor shooters in Calif are at least protected from lead poisoning. Have you considered going to the indoor range 1 x/week and dry fire or visit the outdoor range the other time/week? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSeevers Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Ran an indoor league and reloaded hit 47 Quit shooting indoors and still reload 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcarpenter82 Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Another reason I shoot indoors as little as possible. Hope you get those levels down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy's Toy Posted January 13, 2013 Author Share Posted January 13, 2013 Question, anyone know if there is an agency to call, and have this indoor ranges ventilation system checked out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 anyone know if there is an agency to call, and have this indoor ranges ventilation system checked out? You might want to talk to the management of the range first? The Agency just might close him down / require a $1,000,000 overall, or something ridiculous - put the range out of business - no one wins that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Vigilante Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 EPA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 EPA has shut down a number of ranges in my area, largely due to ventilation issues. The systems in the older places often are inadequate to meet current regulations. And most places can't afford to upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetPow Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 I use universal depriming/decapping die and de-prime cases and tumble the brass outside the house (open air). Also I don't shoot indoors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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