Lead in bullets - interesting analasys -

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From Norma:

https://www.norma.cc/contentassets/faba5773880245e0bbd247692b83887f/lead_symposium_afems_news_oct2015.pdf

Lead Symposium

Facts and Emotions about the use of Lead Ammunition

An International Symposium was organized in Brussels on October the 20th, 2015 by AFEMS and the World Forum on Shooting Activities (WFSA). The topic was "The Sustainable Use of Lead Ammunition in Hunting and Sports Shooting: Facts and Emotions.

The Syposium focused on the sustainable use ose of lead ammunition and its impact on both the environment and human health.
"When rightly handled, metallic lead in ammunition is no risk at all"
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Yet many bullet casters say the opposite. They say that proper venting, use of rubber gloves and other protective clothing, vigorous washing and special attention to handling procedures, etc. are all necessary to avoid dangerous contamination.
 
The fastest way to get lead poisoned is to eat it --> so washing your hands is a no brainier
and
Smokers eat more lead

Can you imagine a smoker washing there hands before every smoke

Bad indoor ventalation is #2
 
Andy said:
Yet many bullet casters say the opposite. They say that proper venting, use of rubber gloves and other protective clothing, vigorous washing and special attention to handling procedures, etc. are all necessary to avoid dangerous contamination.
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"When rightly handled," That would involve everything you said.
 
A relation in my family handled and worked with Lead every working day as a old time plumber and lived to 82 when he died of pneumonia. He used to solder lead and copper pipes right up until he retired in the 1980's. He never was sick and was in good health right up until he moved into a nursing home.

He gave me all his lead and lead based solder he had left over from his work about 25 years ago.

Most people do not realize that up until the mid 1990's in North America that lead was still used in the solder joints to make tin cans used to store food, like in soup cans and canned fruit (China still uses lead solder for this process). Also most costume and cheap women's jewellery has a high lead content.

People have been adsorbing lead for centuries, we are now taking in lead at the lowest levels in history, at least 10 times less than our grand parents did.
 
I work at a shooting range teaching recruits all day, and I still haven't experienced the reproductive harm that lead is supposed to produce. I have four kids already!

But in all seriousness, we all get tested here every three months, and the only rise in our lead levels has been from airborne lead when the ventilation system broke down. Take normal precautions and there's no issue whatsoever.
 
From the members area downloads:

CONCLUSIONS
General
• Lead is a metal that occurs naturally but whose presence in the environment has greatly
increased as a result of anthropogenic activities such as mining and smelting and battery
manufacturing. Although lead occurs in organic and inorganic forms, it is the inorganic forms
that predominate in the environment.
• Control measures taken to regulate lead in paint, petrol, food cans and pipes in Europe since
the 1970s have led to a substantial decrease in exposure.
Methods of analysis
• The primary techniques for analysing lead in food samples are based on atomic absorption
spectrometry, atomic emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry after digestion of organic
material with concentrated acids.
Occurrence and exposure
• Following a call for data, 14 Member States and Norway submitted approximately 140,000
results of lead concentrations in various food commodities and tap water.
• A total of 94,126 results covered the period from 2003 to 2009 and were suitable for
calculating lead concentrations in the various food categories. The lead level in approximately
two thirds of the samples was below the limit of detection or limit of quantification.
• Mean lead dietary exposure estimates for adults across European countries ranged from 0.36
to 1.24 μg/kg b.w. per day and from 0.73 to 2.43 μg/kg b.w. per day for high consumers,
based on lower bound and upper bound assumptions for the level of reporting, respectively.
• Overall, cereals, vegetables and tap water were the most important contributors to lead
exposure in the general European population. More specifically, the following food groups
were identified as the major contributors to lead exposure: cereal products, followed by
potatoes, cereal grains (except rice), cereal-based mixed dishes and leafy vegetables and tap
water. Considerable variation between and within countries in the contribution of different
food categories/groups exists.
• The available evidence for women of child-bearing age and vegetarians does not indicate a
dietary exposure that is different from that of the general adult population.
• Based on limited data, exposure of breast-fed infants was estimated to be 0.21 μg/kg b.w. per
day on average or 0.32 μg/kg b.w. per day for high consumers. For infants fed ready-toconsume
infant formula, the average exposure estimates range from 0.27 to 0.63 μg/kg b.w.
per day, based on lower bound and upper bound assumptions, respectively; for high
consumers, lead exposure estimates range from 0.40 to 0.94 μg/kg b.w. per day, respectively.
• For children aged 1 to 3 years mean lead dietary exposure estimates range from 1.10 to
3.10 μg/kg b.w. per day based on lower bound and upper bound assumptions, respectively; for
high consumers, lead exposure estimates range from 1.71 to 5.51 μg/kg b.w. per day,
respectively.
• For children aged 4 to 7 years mean lead dietary exposure estimates range from 0.80 to
2.61 μg/kg b.w. per day based on lower bound and upper bound assumptions, respectively; for
high consumers, lead exposure estimates range from 1.30 to 4.83 μg/kg b.w. per day.
• For adults, non-dietary exposure to lead is likely to be of minor importance for the general
population in the EU. House dust and soil can be an important source of exposure to lead for
children.
• Lead in blood is considered to be the biomarker of choice for the concentration of lead in soft
tissues, and hence recent exposure, although in part it also reflects long term exposure. Bone
lead in vivo reflects the long-term uptake and body burden.
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Then from:
Max Haldimann · Andreas Baumgartner
Bernhard Zimmerli
Intake of lead from game meat – a risk to consumers’ health?Received: 19 April 2002 / Revised: 20 June 2002 / Published online: 13 August 2002
© Springer-Verlag 2002

Abstract Game meat may contain variable amounts of
lead in the form of fine metallic residues originating
from hunting ammunition. The effect of frequent game
meat consumption on the blood lead levels of hunters,
who are a high-risk lead exposure group, was studied.
Blood lead levels of hunters and control subjects were
measured using isotope dilution ICP-MS. Dietary information
about game meat consumption was obtained
from a questionnaire. The blood lead concentrations
ranged from 21–171 ng/mL with a geometric mean of
57 ng/mL (n=25). However, the individual blood lead
concentrations of the hunters did not correlate with the
number of their weekly game meat meals (r=0.046). The
blood lead levels were compared with a control group
(n=21), which consisted of voluntary blood donors from
the same region. Analysis of variance, adjusted for age,
did not reveal a significant difference between the two
populations (p=0.89). Thus, it was concluded that frequent
consumption of wild game meat has no significant
effect on blood lead levels.
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And then:
LEAD IN GAME MEAT
Bio accessibility of fragments of metallic lead. Conclusions from a study carried out by Christer Holmgren (Swedish Environmental Agency Consultant) and Prof Ulf Qvarfort (Deputy Research Director, Swedish Defence Research Agency).

Results.
The study recently performed by two Swedish experts entitled "The lead-in game" shows results which question what has been published up to now on the subject, in particular as regards the amount of lead eventually ingested that can be absorbed by the human body.
The study has been carried out with reference to wild boar meat hunted with soft point lead bullet ammunition in a regular hunting session.
Computer-tomography and X-rays techniques have been used to guarantee a precise identification of the lead fragments distribution around the channel of the wound. In addition, the gastrointestinal digestion simulation in vitro was conducted to measure the amount of metallic lead which, once ingested, is transformed into bio accessible compounds and therefore potentially absorbable by a human body.
The analysis shows that the fragments of lead are concentrated in a radius of 4.5 cm from the channel of the projectile passage, with a minor amount dispersed in a radius between 4.5 and 10 centimetres: these animal parts are regularly and completely eliminated with the usual practices of slaughter.
A further evidence of the study demonstrates that the amount of fragments of lead accidentally present in the meat which is converted to bioavailable lead compounds (therefore potentially absorbable by the human body) is about 1% of the amount of metallic lead present in the flesh.
The percentage of lead bioavailable which is statistically absorbed by the human body is varying from 20% in adults and 50% in children.
The combination of these two parameters indicates that only 0.2% of the lead fragments ingested by adults is absorbed during its passage through the gastrointestinal tract, while 0,5% is the quantity absorbed by children.
In a scientific report published in 2012, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) highlights that food sources through which the European population is more exposed to lead intake are those consumed more frequently, like cereals, dairy products, vegetables and drinking water.
Referring specifically to tap water, we found that the limit of lead recommended by EU is 10 μg per liter.
At the same time, a report edited in 2012 by the German Bundesinstitut fur Risikobewertung (BfR) says that wild boar meat is one of the most lead contaminated food in Europe, with a content of 4,7 mg. per kg, as a result of the use of lead in ammunition.
The results of the Swedish study shows that the exposure from consumption of 3 kg of such meat is 100 times lower: it is equivalent to the exposure from one week consumption of tap water respecting the lead limits defined by EU Authorities.
Details and additional considerations.
* Lead is one of the most used metals in the world and can enter the human body by contact or through the intake of food (65%), water (20%) and air (15%).
All foods, water, drinks both alcoholic and soft (including tea and coffee), spices and food supplements contain bioavailable lead ions in varying amounts.
The European Commission has set maximum limits for the bioavailable lead quantity allowed in various food groups in order to protect consumers from exposure to harmful levels, while currently there are no official limits defined for game meat.
* The use of lead ammunition for hunting is usually considered risky for the health of the hunters, their families and all those who consume game.
It must anyway be considered that the ammunition bullets are made with metallic lead that, even if ingested in finely fragmented form, is not directly absorbable by the human body during the digestive process, because only lead in “ionic bio accessible compound form” can be absorbed by the human body.
* The mentioned BfR report shows that the wild boar meat contains an average of 4.7 mg / kg of lead, in the form of metallic fragments.
The results of the Swedish study demonstrate that only a maximum percentage of 1% of the lead fragments ingested is transformed in bio available form during the passage through the gastrointestinal tract.
A correct calculation on the potential lead assumption must thus consider only the bioavailable part of mentioned amount.
Considering that only one per cent (1%) of 4.7 mg / kg can be released in the gastrointestinal tract, we can affirm that for a woman of 60 kg the exposure is equivalent to 0.039 μg / kg bw / day, while for a 70 kg man is the value of 0.036 μg / kg body weight / day.
These values correspond to approximately 6% of the limit established by EFSA for RP2 disease risks, which is of 0.63 μg / kg of body weight / day.
* The limit defined by the European Union for the presence of lead in meat commonly used for human consumption (other than wild) is 0.1 mg / kg.
This value relates to meat as well as other foods without of presence lead fragments and refers to the lead present in ionic form, then entirely bioavailable.
This means that approximately twice the value of exposure comes from consumption of meat other than game, related to the consumption of an equal quantity of wild boar meat with a content of 4,7 mg/kg of metallic lead.
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And finally:
Lead in game meat and implications for human health
Prof. Angelo Moretto, Università degli Studi di Milano
Prof. Piermannuccio Mannucci, Scientific Director, IRCCS Ca’ Granda Maggiore
Policlinico Hospital Foundation, Milano
Milano, 18 February 2013
This report contains a pro veritate opinion requested by the Comitato Nazionale Caccia e Natura
(IItaly) regarding the possible human health implications deriving from the use of lead
ammunitions in hunting, paying particular attention to the 2012 ISPRA (Italy) report.

Conclusion:
Based on the data presented and discussed, it is believed, in accordance with the EFSA and on the basis of
the calculations made taking into account the Italian diet, that there is no risk of significant increase in the
body burden of lead for Italian consumers of wild game hunted using lead ammunitions. Based on the EFSA
data it is possible to argue that the contribution of lead content in the meat of game is negligible, and even
the worst case calculated with the Italian diet data provides a contribution of lead not higher than the
current intake through food. As for the permanence in the intestine of lead pellets or fragments thereof,
this appears to be a rare event, and the few observed cases generally involved frequent game consumers,
like the inhabitants of the Arctic.
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With respect to the Arctic, the research focused on lead shot used for bird hunting:
The ISPRA document cites numerous studies carried out in populations living in areas near the Arctic Circle
(Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Northern Russia), which suggest that a high consumption of wild game hunted
using ammunition containing lead is associated with an increase in blood lead levels. This is a particular
situation where the consumption of wild game meat is very high, not comparable to what happens in Italy.
For example, Bjerregaard et al. (2004) reported that the blood lead levels tend to increase in presence of at
least one meal a week of game meat, and that daily consumption of this type of meal is associated with a
doubling of blood lead levels compared to non-users or consumers of up to 3 meals per month. Johansen et
al. (2006) report that, in Greenland, those who do not consume hunted birds have blood lead levels lower
than occasional consumers. But it must be noted that the main difference is observed on regular users
(over 1 time per week), while in those who consume less meals of hunted birds the increase is more
modest and above all there is no difference between consumers of <1 meal per month, 1-2 meals per
month, 2-3 meals per month. Of note, however, that non-consumers were 4 subjects. This makes the
observation not very reliable, and therefore not in contrast with that of Bjerregaard et al. (2004): namely,
that only strong consumers show a significant increase in blood lead levels. Fontaine et al. (2008) suggest
that the ban on use of lead bullets in Canada since 1999 has contributed to the reduction in blood lead
levels in the Inuit of Northern Canada between 1992 and 2004. But we must also take into account the
elimination of lead from gasoline, which has reduced lead pollution in the cold regions of the Arctic, so that
it is not easy to assess the contribution of the two phenomena. Certainly, the authors observe a strong
correlation between blood lead levels and cigarette smoking.
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Lead is still the best bullet material to work with in terms of cost and effective results for hunting, clay shooting & plinking.:)

Follow common sense when handling & smelting as well as "eating up to the hole" and ye will be fine.
 
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