Is the "Lead Problem" Unsolvable for the Gun Culture?

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  • HoughMade

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    How much are levels of lead in the blood raised?

    At what level is lead in the blood of adults harmful?

    Questions that need to be answered before we start thinking that changes of any kind are necessary. Don't buy the opposition's premise unless it is reliable and independently established.
     

    HoughMade

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    Litigation.

    That solves everything.

    Unless its a set up, it will be litigation by a shooter that brings generations of lead-based shooting to a halt.

    I'm reminded of these cockamamie talcum powder lawsuits. Regardless of the evidence, some "expert" will blame some ailment on it and some judge will forget he's gatekeeper and let the theory into evidence, and some easily manipulated jury of sad sacks will give a guy a payday.
     

    rugertoter

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    Unless its a set up, it will be litigation by a shooter that brings generations of lead-based shooting to a halt.

    I'm reminded of these cockamamie talcum powder lawsuits. Regardless of the evidence, some "expert" will blame some ailment on it and some judge will forget he's gatekeeper and let the theory into evidence, and some easily manipulated jury of sad sacks will give a guy a payday.
    Well said! I could not have summed it up any better. ;)
     

    eldirector

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    How much are levels of lead in the blood raised?

    At what level is lead in the blood of adults harmful?

    Questions that need to be answered before we start thinking that changes of any kind are necessary. Don't buy the opposition's premise unless it is reliable and independently established.
    .
    Those were answered in the first link of the linked article (so... 2 links deep). The CDC recommends < 5 μg/dL. Studies found levels ranging from 10-40 μg/dL in shooting range visitors.

    Better ventilation/filtration inside, and better containment outside seems like a decent place to start, if one believes this is an issue.
     

    HoughMade

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    .
    Those were answered in the first link of the linked article (so... 2 links deep). The CDC recommends < 5 μg/dL. Studies found levels ranging from 10-40 μg/dL in shooting range visitors.

    Better ventilation/filtration inside, and better containment outside seems like a decent place to start, if one believes this is an issue.

    What the CDC recommends may or may not be the definition of when lead exposure becomes harmful. I see no problem with better lead control methods, but if we're going to be scientific....
     

    JDG

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    It seems to me that there are more sources of potential lead poisoning than what limited exposure you get while shooting. How many houses still have lead based paint? Lead is a common additive in many metal alloys to aid in machining processes.
     

    LP1

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    .
    Those were answered in the first link of the linked article (so... 2 links deep). The CDC recommends < 5 μg/dL. Studies found levels ranging from 10-40 μg/dL in shooting range visitors.

    Better ventilation/filtration inside, and better containment outside seems like a decent place to start, if one believes this is an issue.

    On it's face, those ideas would seem to make sense. However, according to a related story I heard on the radio yesterday, the lead level did not seem to vary between users of indoor and outdoor ranges, and it's not related to the spent bullet in the berm. It sounds like it's more a function of the lead in the primer getting on the shooter's skin. If that's true, then dealing with it will be much trickier.
     

    Libertarian01

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    I heard this story on NPR about a week ago. They were saying the problem was with the lead content in the primer, of which 40% of the material is lead that we have yet to find a replacement for.

    The simple solution they suggested was wearing a mask, which would reduce the majority of what is breathed in.

    My suggestion is to simply start using Type II phasers or laser weapons, but that's just me. Oh yeah, and Gauss weapons too!:)

    Regards,

    Doug
     

    LarryC

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    The obvious solution is to drink more BEER. It sounds facetious when posted but it actually is a reality. To combat radiation poisoning, one of the major treatments is to administer beer, seems like it carries heavy metals out of the body faster than any other method! As a side note, there was a major producer of automobile batteries in my city for several years. All manufacturing employees were required to have blood tests for lead levels at periodic intervals. Those who were heavy beer drinkers rarely had any problems passing the tests. Unfortunately, I drink very little beer any more. In my younger years it was a different story..., but now I drink 3 or 4 beers a year. May have to revise my diet. Maybe the Government will require all shooters / reloaders / bullet casters to drink X number of beers a week!
     

    Kirk Freeman

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    The obvious solution is to drink more BEER. It sounds facetious when posted but it actually is a reality. To combat radiation poisoning, one of the major treatments is to administer beer, seems like it carries heavy metals out of the body faster than any other method! As a side note, there was a major producer of automobile batteries in my city for several years. All manufacturing employees were required to have blood tests for lead levels at periodic intervals. Those who were heavy beer drinkers rarely had any problems passing the tests. Unfortunately, I drink very little beer any more. In my younger years it was a different story..., but now I drink 3 or 4 beers a year. May have to revise my diet. Maybe the Government will require all shooters / reloaders / bullet casters to drink X number of beers a week!

    Let him speak!

    I find your political ideals fascinating and desire to subscribe to your newsletter.

    "Kirk Freeman, you better not be going to that damn brewery to drink with your moron friends. We have dinner with my parents tonight!"

    "No, sweetheart, I'm doing to the medical clinic* after work. I'll be at the restaurant after the clinic."

    *clinic=>http://www.peoplesbrew.com/
     

    BugI02

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    .
    Those were answered in the first link of the linked article (so... 2 links deep). The CDC recommends < 5 μg/dL. Studies found levels ranging from 10-40 μg/dL in shooting range visitors.

    Better ventilation/filtration inside, and better containment outside seems like a decent place to start, if one believes this is an issue.

    I would see more than average difficulty, here. As the article mentions, volatile lead compounds generated by primer function and reality absorbed by the body (via lung tissue) could be a large part of the problem. If this is found to be correct, than anytime you smell propellant while shooting you would likely be exposed to these compounds. To be effective, since you are so close to the source, ventilation would likely have to be vertical in the firing position and might wind up reminiscent of gale force winds

    Some data I would like to see would be if there was variation in lead levels of rifle shooters (they are closer to the ejection port and may have higher exposure to airborne compounds) or revolver shooters (more likely to have skin exposure to lead) or those shooting exclusively cast boolits

    The other approach, since lead is chemically active, might be to seek a lead compound wherein the lead atoms are very tightly bound and one which is not readily absorbed by the body. Coupled with NT primers that could offer meaningful reductions in exposure

    If only we could leverage this to enable many more outside ranges; in the interest of public health, of course
     
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