Limiting lead exposure in indoor (and outdoor) shooting?

Wondering if any of you have any tips, routines, or techniques for reducing lead exposure in indoor ranges, especially in competition or training scenarios where you are downrange and touching lead covered items.

I presently use gloves when handling target stands & equipment, use Hoppe's de-leading wipes, and D-Lead hand soap if it's at the range.

Do you change your clothes before you leave the range? Shoes? Do you use D-leading shampoo or shower gel when you get home? Anyone use de-leading laundry soap?

I worked at an indoor range for about a year. When I started, somewhere in the middle, and toward the end they had my lead levels checked. They did this for all the employees. All my tests where fine and once a week part of my job was to pull bullets out of the rubber fill backstop. Other than the hazmat precautions on those days it was mostly about keeping our hands clean.

I think you're already doing a good job. Try not to eat until you've had a chance to thoroughly wash your hands. It is one of the big things people don't fully pay attention to especially if they have a snack. Along with good ventilation I imagine you'll be fine.

Much like we did you can arrange to have your lead level periodically checked out. If they stay even it means what you're doing is working.

EDIT: Keeping your shoes clean is also important. You're more likely to pick up unburnt powder than lead if you're up range.

I work at a range, but frankly I am more concerned about getting shot by a yahoo that wants to show me his gun.

Just the other day an idiot walks holding a bullpup 12ga, loaded mag and round in the chamber...[panic]

I just don't worry about it.

Although it is really uncommon common sense goes a very long way in lead mitigation. Don’t eat, smoke, chew, pick your nose, rub your eyes etc before washing. The majority of the fancy soaps exist to separate you from your money- any quality soap does fine.

I don't worry about it much. Whistling - umm - DCF range has good ventilation.

Wash hands and face before I leave the range, don't eat until after a shower.

Although the CDC says dermal exposure is not a significant pathway for lead toxicity, wash hands with cold water to keep the pores from expanding.

Inhalation is the greatest threat so make sure to blow your nose after shooting.

Throw the lead wipes or some kind of hand wipe in your shooting bag/box. This makes it handy to get it off your hands and you don?t have the excuse of not near a sink. If you are at an indoor range, they often have them for use or the bathroom is close enough.

Where I see most people go wrong is smoking or snacks.

When reloading or dealing with processing brass, always wash hands before eating and other activities.


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Vitamin C is a known chelating agent for lead. It is also called ascorbic acid. Acute toxic lead poisoning should be treated by a doctor.

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Originally Posted by BushMasterBoy

Vitamin C is a known chelating agent for lead. It is also called ascorbic acid. Acute toxic lead poisoning should be treated by a doctor.

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I didn’t know that about Vitamin C. I always figured my lead levels are always low because I wash my hands and bleed sometimes (figure the lead leaves with the spilt blood, right?), but I do consume a lot of citrus fruits…

Don't stick your fingers in your mouth?

So from someone who had a high level waaaay back when...

Some people's physiology makes them more susceptible to soaking up lead more readily than others. I'm one of them.

There was a group of us that were shooting at a range called the Gunbarrel here in the 'springs years ago (the range no longer exists). Basically all of our exposure was identical. On a whim I got my lead level tested. It was very high. So high it triggered letters from the state saying, quite literally, that they were going to take my kids away if I could not identify and mitigate the source (fortunately, I have no kids). Sorry, I don't remember what the number was.

Everyone I shot with immediately got their lead levels checked as well. All were zero to near zero. It was only me.

So yhea, do everything you can to mitigate exposure - but still get tested every once in awhile.

O2 (or should I sign this "Pb"?)

Gunbarrel? Aka Caswell’s?

The most common form of lead poisoning is from water pipes. I always distill my drinking water.

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Originally Posted by Hoser

Gunbarrel? Aka Caswell’s?

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Yup!

Pb

Compared to all of the lead based paint I used to snack on as a child, my exposure during firearm related events is minimal.

LOL, we used to eat lunch in between rounds when I was on the rifle team in high school. Coach got mad at us more because the digestive process apparently affected the consistency of our shooting than because of risks of ingestion ...

Lots of good info here. I'll add to keep 'range clothes' separate and out of the living space(shoes too).