Get your lead levels checked. I do so evey year. Got a call from my Doc yesterday. Results are in. 3X above the allowed amount. Obviously need to revamp how I do my bullet casting. What do you guys do during casting to prevent lead absorption?
Lead Levels
- Thread starter gdkmedic
- Start date
- Location
- Nova Scotia
You must be casting indoors? or less than ventilated area. Well a proper P100 lead particle respirator be the best ( those painter masks do nothing for lead ) Wear gloves, get some coveralls for casting purpose. When done, strip, wash the clothes take a shower.
I talked to a CGN'er that I sold me casting stuff to, he almost casts on a commercial level, and said his levels never been above normal. I got high lead levels from indoors ranges.
I cast my ingots outside on a windy day and stay upwind of the pot, I also keep a close eye on temperature.
I use heavy welding gloves when I cast ingots or a lighter pair of leather gloves when I cast bullets.
If you take a break to have a smoke or to eat or have a drink always make sure you wash your arms and hands.
If I cast in my shop in the winter, I was lucky to salvage a 1000 CFM hood when we renovated a government lab.
After I am done I take my clothes off and throw them into the washer and I head off to the shower.
Do you shoot in a indoor range? Most people that I know that had problems with high lead levels shot at indoor ranges with poor ventilation.
I use heavy welding gloves when I cast ingots or a lighter pair of leather gloves when I cast bullets.
If you take a break to have a smoke or to eat or have a drink always make sure you wash your arms and hands.
If I cast in my shop in the winter, I was lucky to salvage a 1000 CFM hood when we renovated a government lab.
After I am done I take my clothes off and throw them into the washer and I head off to the shower.
Do you shoot in a indoor range? Most people that I know that had problems with high lead levels shot at indoor ranges with poor ventilation.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
I don't think that this is at all obvious. The majority of cases I have heard of where a shooter developed elevated lead levels the most likely cause was found to be something other than casting. Unless you are keeping a sandwich in between your pot and your drop zone, you should probably take a big step back and assess your whole lead handling routine.
About seven or eight years back, my lead levels became alarming and my doctor was reading the Riot Act to me.
I gave up pistol shooting for about four years and my lead levels slowly came back down. I live about eight minutes from the Sudbury Revolver Club and was shooting about three times a week during the winter.
One of the directors of the club is a professor at the local medical school did a bunch of research into the problem and found that primer residue, lead styphnate, is the big culprit.
When I was shooting indoors, out a window, the residue was blowing back at me, and the wind always blows in, not out.
So my lead levels have been dropping nicely. I don't shoot my handguns nearly as much, and I shoot mainly outdoors. I have switched to lead free pistol primers and use a nose filter when indoors. Last summer, while waiting for hip surgery, I cast six or seven thousand bullets in my garage, near the open big door, and my level in the fall was less than that of the previous spring. I only cast about a thousand bullets this summer and with clean alloy.
I suspect that when melting down wheel weights, all the oil, dirt and other junk burning off might bring microscopic lead with it, so all my current alloys have been cleaned up. I always scrub my hands with Snap hand cleaner after cleaning or loading. Also, when Mrs. Slug went to a naturopath, one of the tests done on her was to check for lead, and her result was zero. So, there were no environmental concerns.
I gave up pistol shooting for about four years and my lead levels slowly came back down. I live about eight minutes from the Sudbury Revolver Club and was shooting about three times a week during the winter.
One of the directors of the club is a professor at the local medical school did a bunch of research into the problem and found that primer residue, lead styphnate, is the big culprit.
When I was shooting indoors, out a window, the residue was blowing back at me, and the wind always blows in, not out.
So my lead levels have been dropping nicely. I don't shoot my handguns nearly as much, and I shoot mainly outdoors. I have switched to lead free pistol primers and use a nose filter when indoors. Last summer, while waiting for hip surgery, I cast six or seven thousand bullets in my garage, near the open big door, and my level in the fall was less than that of the previous spring. I only cast about a thousand bullets this summer and with clean alloy.
I suspect that when melting down wheel weights, all the oil, dirt and other junk burning off might bring microscopic lead with it, so all my current alloys have been cleaned up. I always scrub my hands with Snap hand cleaner after cleaning or loading. Also, when Mrs. Slug went to a naturopath, one of the tests done on her was to check for lead, and her result was zero. So, there were no environmental concerns.
Mightymoose410
Regular
- Location
- Beautiful Vancouver Island
Out of curiosity how is the test done? Blood? Hair?
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Blood drawn and sent to a lab for testing.
I had a test done last year, I don't cast much at all but I had spent the previous 3 years shooting indoors. About 10,000 rounds a month. That's on top of being a very active reloader. Levels were fine and the only measures I take to avoid exposure are not eating/drinking around my gear and washing my hands. I must credit RDSC's apparently excellent ventilation system as well.
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Lee Valley makes a very nice compact face mask that some of us are now assiduously wearing indoors. It works too!
I believe the biggest contamination occurs at most indoor ranges. Lead vapourization is a big cause, plus some jackwagon is always using a broom to sweep up brass downrange. Broom sweeping in indoor ranges not only disturbs lead particles, but re-animates them back into the air for all to breathe. If you encounter this jackwagon sweeping, leave immediately!
You can minimize your exposure indoors but its the other guy who doesn't care (yet) who fires the smoky stuff. Obtain a good mask & wear it. Plus, most clubs are not smart enough on this issue (yet) and still supply brooms for indoor sweeping or let these jackwagons sweep. Unless your range spent C$500,000.00 on an indoor air system, consider it suspect & inferior.
Don't wear your outside coat in the indoor range. Ever! Hang it up before entering.
Plan ahead & bring an indoor range shirt or top that you immediately remove when you are done. Send that shirt to the laundry upon arriving home.
Cross contamination can leave residual lead particles on your person, face & hands. So always wash your hands, avoid touching your face, nose & eyes, & wash your whole face when you get home.
Never, ever, eat, smoke, or drink anything in the indoor range.
I believe the biggest contamination occurs at most indoor ranges. Lead vapourization is a big cause, plus some jackwagon is always using a broom to sweep up brass downrange. Broom sweeping in indoor ranges not only disturbs lead particles, but re-animates them back into the air for all to breathe. If you encounter this jackwagon sweeping, leave immediately!
You can minimize your exposure indoors but its the other guy who doesn't care (yet) who fires the smoky stuff. Obtain a good mask & wear it. Plus, most clubs are not smart enough on this issue (yet) and still supply brooms for indoor sweeping or let these jackwagons sweep. Unless your range spent C$500,000.00 on an indoor air system, consider it suspect & inferior.
Don't wear your outside coat in the indoor range. Ever! Hang it up before entering.
Plan ahead & bring an indoor range shirt or top that you immediately remove when you are done. Send that shirt to the laundry upon arriving home.
Cross contamination can leave residual lead particles on your person, face & hands. So always wash your hands, avoid touching your face, nose & eyes, & wash your whole face when you get home.
Never, ever, eat, smoke, or drink anything in the indoor range.
I used to manage an indoor shooting facility for the military, and a lot of points have already been covered here. A lot of these practices apply to casting or handling lead as well.
I just wanted to reiterate to tell anyone reading this what some militaries have spent so much money researching:
- primers are indeed a major source of lead dust, and copper dust isn't exactly good for you either, a respirator rated for heavy metals is a cheap solution and is something that is being implemented for frequent indoor range users.
- a major route of lead entry is indeed from unwashed hands and eating/smoking after handling lead/ammo. Wash your hands and face before eating or smoking. Lead-off wipes are a good solution for a range to provide.
- wash your clothes after leaving an indoor range, soaps can be purchased which will handle lead better than standard products
- never sweep the floor, vacuum only, and ensure said vacuum has a good HEPA filter and is rated to catch/handle heavy metal dust, an unfiltered shop-vac will likely make the problem worse
- and yes: no food or open drinks in an indoor range, ever.
I just wanted to reiterate to tell anyone reading this what some militaries have spent so much money researching:
- primers are indeed a major source of lead dust, and copper dust isn't exactly good for you either, a respirator rated for heavy metals is a cheap solution and is something that is being implemented for frequent indoor range users.
- a major route of lead entry is indeed from unwashed hands and eating/smoking after handling lead/ammo. Wash your hands and face before eating or smoking. Lead-off wipes are a good solution for a range to provide.
- wash your clothes after leaving an indoor range, soaps can be purchased which will handle lead better than standard products
- never sweep the floor, vacuum only, and ensure said vacuum has a good HEPA filter and is rated to catch/handle heavy metal dust, an unfiltered shop-vac will likely make the problem worse
- and yes: no food or open drinks in an indoor range, ever.
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I continuously run into these jackwagons using brooms at the indoor range. Indoor range sweeping is 100% bad. I used to suggest to them that they turn the broom upside down if they want to collate brass cases. They just can't resist the sweep.
The vacuum setup works & some ranges use water to flush contaminated areas.
Primers have lead in them that goes to ignite the powder. The powder vapourizes cast lead lead bullets & similar 9mmFMJ's.
You might be doing your part to minimize lead exposure but the jackwagons aren't. Buy & wear a mask @ indoor ranges.
The vacuum setup works & some ranges use water to flush contaminated areas.
Primers have lead in them that goes to ignite the powder. The powder vapourizes cast lead lead bullets & similar 9mmFMJ's.
You might be doing your part to minimize lead exposure but the jackwagons aren't. Buy & wear a mask @ indoor ranges.
At the ranges I've belonged to, the sweeping was a mandatory part of cleanup. That's a big part of why I don't shoot indoors anymore. Recently I noticed someone wearing a filter mask while shooting on the outdoor range. Is there a legitimate lead risk outdoors, or just paranoia?
Easy peasy...I get my levels checked every year, local hospital has a lab, I get my results on-line next day. So far no charge ! (OHIP)
Check out Dynacare Labs.
kelseyscooter1
Regular
- Location
- Central Alberta
All good comments above. I watched my lead levels go up slowly over several years, and was able to bring them down to normal. I have always used a high output ventilation fan in my garage while casting, so I looked for other causes. I found three causes for this in my humble opinion. Your mileage may vary!!! 1) Lead primers. I switched to lead free primers.
2) Lead bullets. I powdercoat all the bullets I cast now. wished I started powdercoating years ago.
3) Vibratory tumbler, using inside house or garage. Fill and empty the tumbler outside, and sift the clean brass outside.
2) Lead bullets. I powdercoat all the bullets I cast now. wished I started powdercoating years ago.
3) Vibratory tumbler, using inside house or garage. Fill and empty the tumbler outside, and sift the clean brass outside.
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