Blood test for Lead Levels?
With all the shooting and reloading of people here, I was wondering if anyone ever asks for a check in their bloodwork for lead levels?
Especially those who shoot at indoor ranges. It seems like a good idea to see where one stands as it's pretty damaging if high levels are found.
Re: Blood test for Lead Levels?
Re: Blood test for Lead Levels?
I believe there are a few threads on this. Pretty much you'd have to eat the lead to get enough into your system to do you harm. I had a lead test about a year ago just for kicks, lead levels were normal. I've been shooting weekly (indoors in winter) and reloading for over 10 years. I also work on the backstops at the range.
Re: Blood test for Lead Levels?
For such a test to actually be effective you would have had to have a lead test performed before taking up the hobby. You'd need a base figure to start with because you could have gotten contaminated in your youth.
Re: Blood test for Lead Levels?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hawk
I believe there are a few threads on this. Pretty much you'd have to eat the lead to get enough into your system to do you harm. I had a lead test about a year ago just for kicks, lead levels were normal. I've been shooting weekly (indoors in winter) and reloading for over 10 years. I also work on the backstops at the range.
I couldn't find any when searching.
Re: Blood test for Lead Levels?
one guy that cast bullets a lot has his checked yearly was fine till he started help sweeping up at his local indoor club's range then it went up he stopped doing that and it was fine
Re: Blood test for Lead Levels?
I asked my doctor to check it last time I had blood work but they actually forgot to run the test. I didn't bother to go back so I don't know. The only people I have heard of that had high lead levels were people working in indoor ranges. Shooters, not so much.
Re: Blood test for Lead Levels?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mmi
one guy that cast bullets a lot has his checked yearly was fine till he started help sweeping up at his local indoor club's range then it went up he stopped doing that and it was fine
I still see dry sweep brooms at local ranges .....
Was told it should be a wet squeegee type broom dry sweeping lifts up the mead dust back into the air again - I refuse to dry sweep any range since I learned this. No range should have them. It shows lack of concern for their patrons and staff.
Re: Blood test for Lead Levels?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yoder
I asked my doctor to check it last time I had blood work but they actually forgot to run the test. I didn't bother to go back so I don't know. The only people I have heard of that had high lead levels were people working in indoor ranges. Shooters, not so much.
I do work at indoor range - but not often so should be ok
Re: Blood test for Lead Levels?
One of my hobbies is cloisonné enameling. The coloring agents are cadmium, barium, arsenic, lead, and antimony. When I'm making them regularly, I get tested for those metals every year. If I'm not doing a lot of that work, every two years for the tests. I had one blip of barium, which I think came from welding flux at work. Fortunately, barium will clear out of your system relatively quickly.