Posted on 05/12/2017 2:41:44 PM PDT by PROCON
Lead dust discharged from firearms at gun ranges may be posing a significant health risk, a new analysis has concluded.
The review analysis of 36 studies conducted between 1975 and 2016, published recently in the journal Environmental Health, looked at the ways gun range lead exposure affected patrons, employees and family members.
For the analysis, the authors used the search engines Google Scholar, Pubmed and Science Direct to access studies related to blood lead levels (BLL) and firearms. From that search, 36 related articles were found from 15 countries around the world. Over half the articles were from the U.S.
The authors found that nearly all BLL measurements published in the reviewed studies exceeded the current maximum safe level of 5 μg/dL set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH).
In 31 studies BLLs > 10 μg/dL were reported in some shooters, 18 studies reported BLLs > 20 μg/dL, 17 studies > 30 μg/d, and 15 studies BLLs > 40 μg/dL. The studies found the higher levels of BLLs to be connected to lead discharge from guns at shooting ranges, number of bullets fired, and caliber of weapon fired.
From those results, the authors concluded that shooting ranges are a ‘significant’ health problem, as many adverse heath outcomes have been connected to high BLLs, such as tremors, high blood pressure, heart disease, and decreased kidney function. High BLLs can also lead to complications in pregnancy and lower IQ and impaired cognitive function in children.
To decrease the health risk, the study’s authors called for better ventilation systems at shooting ranges, banning smoking and eating at shooting ranges, and developed airflow systems for outdoor ranges. They also suggest changing clothes after shooting.
To eliminate lead dust risk completely, lead-free primers and lead-free bullets would have to be used, the authors said.
The study also found that those most at risk are those who frequently shoot at ranges, such as firearms instructors, police and military personnel.
In order to reduce that risk, the Department of Defense has lowered its BLL standard to 20 μg/dL, NPR News reported. That level is three times lower than what it used to be.
DOD spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel James Brindle told NPR those changes were implemented after a National Academy of Sciences report published in 2012 also showed DOD personnel faced significant health risks due to lead exposure.
“DoD’s subject matter experts in toxicology and occupational medicine used the Committee’s report to propose the lower allowable blood lead level,” Brindle said.
The lead exposure issue remains divisive, with some gun rights advocates questioning the validity of and motivations behind such studies, including National Shooting Sports Foundation Vice President Larry Keane.
“Well, that’s their opinion,” said Keane. “We believe there are efforts by others that want to diminish people’s participation in shooting sports or exercise their Second Amendment rights. They put out or advocate positions that are unsupported by the evidence.”
One of the authors of the analysis, Gabriel Filipelli, made it clear to the Indy Star that the analysis was not meant to take a stance on gun rights.
“This is not an anti-gun paper,” Filippelli said. “It’s a pro lead-protection paper.”
“This is not an anti-gun paper,” Filippelli said. “It’s a pro lead-protection paper.”
Riiigggghhhhttt....
So I guess the solution is to ban lead ammunition?
If it saves one child's life, isn't it worth it?
Yada, yada, yada...
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That’s how they’re going to do it. Ban lead. ...........................
“Study: Gun range lead exposure poses ‘significant’ health risk”
Especially if one is on the opposite end of the trigger pull.
I don’t go to my local indoor gun range in the winter. They have big air blowers blowing outside air in the shooters area which forces the air to exit the other end. Too damned cold in the winter.
And they wonder why people stockpile ammunition......
The anti-gunners want us all dead anyway. Can’t they just leave us alone to die happily from lead poisoning?
Maybe the 5 μg/dL is ridiculously low, as is the need for a hazmat team to renovate a kitchen in an old house with lead paint.
Ludicrous.
....That’s how they’re going to do it. Ban lead. ...
Then Gunpowder, Primers, and all casings.
Remember, Chris Rock wants a $5,000 tax on all rounds. If every round is suddenly worth $5,000, there’s going to be lots of instant millionaires from ammo already owned.
Oh, it’s a problem until the government gets in trouble for it.
Then, it’s no big deal.
They keep lowering the threshold until there is a problem.
Good thing I wear my bullet-deflecting bracelets at all times!
Gun. Grabbers. Are. Relentless. And, EVIL!
I suppose it does if you are standing in front of the gun....
What a crock.....
“...as is the need for a hazmat team to renovate a kitchen in an old house with lead paint.”
You want a visit from a Haz Mat Team? Break one of those freaking poison-filled light bulbs the EnviroWeenies have crammed down our throats!
They are.
Heavy metal poisoning is cumulative. So is hearing loss. Take reasonable precautions against both when shooting.
I work around lots of lead shielding and have to deal with it on a regular basis. I also frequent my local gun range at least once a month. A few years ago I asked the Doc to do a heavy metals blood panel. Results: no lead exposure above the norm.
Most ranges I’ve been on have filtered ventilation systems
Notice, they didn’t actually do a study. They did a book report on other peoples studies. They didn’t check the methodology or the data gathered by the authors of the studies. They just googled up some articles then put their spin on it.
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