A relaxing trip to the shooting range might not conjure up images of serious health issues in your mind. But, there’s a seldom-considered concern that we need to pay attention to. It’s called lead. Yeah, that stuff that they make bullets out of.
Lead poisoning doesn’t normally happen overnight; rather, it’s a process wherein lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health issues and very high levels can be fatal.
Once it’s in the body, lead can damage almost every organ system in the body. And, firing ranges can expose us to lead.
The Firing Range
For some of us, the shooting range is an occupational environment that is an integral part of our job. I worked in law enforcement for close to three decades, and for much of that time, I was at the gun range. Because I was an instructor, I was there a lot.
Shooting might be a leisure hobby to escape the daily grind for others, or they might take their defensive training seriously.
Indoor ranges are far more likely to cause us to ingest lead because it’s an enclosed area. It’s paramount that an indoor range be properly ventilated.
I almost always use an outdoor range because there’s one close to where I live. Aside from convenience, there are advantages to the outdoor range, such as I can shoot any caliber firearm that I please. Most indoor ranges have restrictions on calibers because of the penetrative qualities of some rifles.
Shooting distances are also farther for outdoor ranges, which again is an advantage to rifles.
Ventilation is, without question, better at outdoor ranges. No one does it better than Mother Nature!
How are we exposed to lead at the shooting range?
When we fire weapons, airborne dust can come from ammunition that has lead in it. Many projectiles contain a lead core and a jacket (often copper). Sometimes there might be lead in the smoke when the weapon is fired. Lead particles can come out of the barrel, ejection port, and other places on the firearm. The lead particles float through the air, where we can breathe them in. Ejected bullet casings also spew lead particles everywhere as they head toward the ground.
Indoor ranges often use bullet traps. When bullets hit those hard surfaces, they often create “splatter” which can introduce dust and pieces of lead into the air.
That dust also settles all around the range — on the shooting tables, shelves, and the floor. Basically, lead dust and residue can cover anything that’s lying around on the range. That includes food, cigarettes, drinks, and anything else you might have brought with you.
It also can saturate clothing that’s worn at the range, including shoes. The contaminated clothing can then be brought home, affecting other family members.
How To Mitigate Lead Exposure at the Range
Good preventative measures go a long way. As mentioned, proper ventilation is a must for indoor ranges. That gets a lot of the dust vented out before it even reaches shooters.
Don’t eat, drink, or smoke on the range.
Jacketed ammunition is preferred since the jacket encapsulates the lead. Lead bullets with no jacket cause more exposure to lead. Most shooters don’t realize that there is also lead in many of the primers that are used in ammunition.
If casting lead bullets, do it in a well-ventilated area. Doing it in your home is not advisable.
After shooting or handling firearms, ammunition, or cleaning firearms, wash hands and forearms thoroughly. Do this before eating, drinking, or making physical contact with others.
Speaking of washing the body, consider that dust normally settles in the hair and on the skin, in addition to the clothing. Washing those areas will help cut down on exposure, even to other family members.
Before performing range maintenance or when cleaning the inside of a firing range, use a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA), respirators, and protective gear. Don’t dry sweep the floor, as that raises lead-containing dust into the air.
Change your clothing when leaving the range, and wash it separately when you get home.
If you’re regularly exposed to lead, it may be a good idea to have your blood levels tested by medical professionals occasionally to ensure that you’re not experiencing a build up of lead.
Naturally, keep all ammunition out of the reach of children, both for safety reasons and also to prevent lead exposures.
Outdoor Ranges
For outdoor ranges, it’s not as likely that we’re going to be covered head-to-toe with lead dust residue. That said, it’s still not a bad idea to take precautions, especially if you have young children. Wash your clothing separately and keep it away from the kids.
Signs & Symptoms of Lead Poisoning
There is an expansive list of signs and symptoms of lead poisoning for children and adults who are being affected by lead poisoning.
Children:
- Developmental delay.
- Learning difficulties.
- Irritability.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Sluggishness and fatigue.
- Abdominal pain.
- Vomiting.
- Constipation.
- Hearing loss.
- Seizures.
Adults:
- High blood pressure.
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Difficulties with memory or concentration.
- Mood disorders.
- Abdominal pain.
- Headache.
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth in pregnant women.
- Reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm.
Young children absorb lead more easily, and it’s more harmful to them than it is to older children and adults. The greatest risk is to brain development, where irreversible damage can occur.
High lead levels can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys in both children and adults.
Other Resources
Aside from this article, you may wish to delve further into the effects of lead poisoning and how to prevent it.
Here are a few resources:
- US Dept. of Labor, OSHA: osha.gov/SLTC/lead.
- Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health: cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lead.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): epa.gov/lead/best-management-practices-lead-outdoor-shooting-ranges.
Parting Shots
With just a little effort and forethought, range trips can be conducted quite safely. We don’t need to be paranoid about lead to be safe from its effects.
Make sure you choose a well-ventilated range and take the other simple steps outlined above. Keep contaminated clothing separate from family members, especially small children.
And above all…enjoy your range experience safely!
