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SwampFox Super Member
Joined: Jul 15, 2005 Posts: 1040 Location: Destin, Florida
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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"Any business owner has a right to run his business as he sees fit AND customers have a right to determine if we wish to do business with then."
You would not believe the number of Feds that would disagree with you. We business owners are in business to keep the Feds in holidays and coffee breaks. Didn't ya know?
Best,
Ed
_________________ The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-Winston Churchill |
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OntheLasGallinas Super Member
Joined: Aug 23, 2007 Posts: 1042 Location: South Texas
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:48 pm Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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As a Texas licensed Lead Risk Assessor, I’ve seen problems with lead in several areas.
The main one is lead paint. When lead paint gets old, it sloughs off as a dust that settles on all surfaces. This one is not so much of a problem with adults, but children crawl around on the floor and touch everything, then put their hands in their mouths. High lead in children can cause brain damage and it doesn’t take very much. I do most of my lead work in homes with children that have tested high for lead.
I’ve seen high blood lead in adults who mold their own bullets, without proper ventilation. This is also a problem with radiator repair shops. Any place that works with lead. The main pathway into the body is from ingestion, not from contact.
I’ve only tested soils at shooting ranges, mostly military and older (closed) ranges. I’ve never had any reports of high blood lead in shooters. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen.
The main problem with lead is that it won’t go away easily. It’s a heavy metal, and very persistent. It takes quite a long time to get sick from lead exposure, but, if you’ve reached a level that will make you sick, it will take a long time to get over it. For children, it’s 10 ug/dL (parts per billion). For adults is around 40 ug/dL.
Here’s what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it:
Symptoms
Lead poisoning may be hard to detect at first, because children who appear healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies. The accumulation of lead usually is gradual, building up unnoticed until levels become dangerous and cause signs and symptoms.
Signs and symptoms in children
The signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children are nonspecific and may include:
Irritability
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Sluggishness
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Constipation
Unusual paleness (pallor) from anemia
Learning difficulties
Signs and symptoms in adults
Although children are primarily at risk, lead poisoning is also dangerous to adults. Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in adults may include:
Pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities
Muscular weakness
Headache
Abdominal pain
Memory loss
Mood disorders
Reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm
_________________ Rancher/Environmental Scientist |
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gelandangan Super Member
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 6397 Location: Sydney Australia
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15714 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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OntheLasGallinas Super Member
Joined: Aug 23, 2007 Posts: 1042 Location: South Texas
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 5:44 am Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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I kept getting this message after I sent the message:
"A database error has occurred
The webmaster has been notified of the error"
I thought it wasn't going through.
That's a heck of a large post to be hung up on a studder!
_________________ Rancher/Environmental Scientist |
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stovepipe Super Member
Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 4877 Location: Pine, Az.
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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Stumbled onto something in my Lee reloading manual last night about how there could be a risk from handling tumbling media and tumbled cases due to the lead in primers.
Think I'll wear nitryl gloves next batch. I do when changing oil, using harsh chemicals etc.
I sometimes wonder why I don't have a third eye with all the stufff I've been exposed to. Caustics, cyanide, chromich acids, etc...
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Pumpkinslinger Super Member
Joined: Sep 22, 2007 Posts: 5001 Location: NC foothills
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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I had considered making something to "wash" cleaned brass with compressed air to remove media and dust but didn't ever think about lead from primers. Of course now I guess I'd just be blowing the lead into the air? I could combine compressed air with a vacuum. Hmmm... Any thoughts on this?
_________________ Mike
"I ain't no better than anybody else, and there ain't nobody better than me!" Ma Kettle |
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stovepipe Super Member
Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 4877 Location: Pine, Az.
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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I'd still have to pick the flash holes on my stuff... so that means hands on, so gloves get the call now if for no other reason my grimy hands mess up the nice finish.
I'm tinkering with idea converting my dishwasher over into a brass-cleaner, maybe hog out the holes in the spray bar for media, trim the rack finger thingy's down to case lentgh....plop in some brass polish where the soap used to go etc.
Don't use it much for dishes.... gotta be a gun related use for it...it get's used for dirtbike parts more than dishes.
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chambered221 Super Member
Joined: Aug 17, 2007 Posts: 3455 Location: Lost for good !!!
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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Mike, I rinse with water and let set over night to dry !!!
If you use a vacum, use a hepa !!!
_________________ Ask as many people needed, sooner or later your question will be answered the way you want it answered !!!
A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.
~George Washington |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15714 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:20 am Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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I really don't think I would be gettin' all panicky over the tiny tiny bit of lead you are likely to come into contact with when cleaning cases.
If you feel that there is a problem with the possibility of lead contamination from primers whilst cleaning cases...do it outside. Or, do as I do, cut some strips of paper hand towel (5 or 6) about 2" wide, wet them and throw them into the case tumbler while it is working...no more dust...of any kind. Works for me. In fact, I remember some time back a thread where someone mentioned putting the fancy pretty smelly strips that you guys have for the clothes dryer into the case tumbler...same thing I reckon.
Unless you are sitting over the top of you melting pot when casting, then I don't see that it is a major problem. However, having said that, I do wear a respirator, with the appropriate filters, and safety glasses when casting because I usually spend at least 3 or 4 hours casting up boolits.
If you follow sensible and safe procedures when doing ANYTHING to do with handloading, then you have 99% of the battle won.
*When casting ensure adequate (read open windows and doors) ventilation.
*Wear a respirator if you are going to be "over" the melting pot for any length of time.
*Wear safety glasses.
*Keep water well away from the molten alloy mix. (It WILL be nasty if you splash water into it.)
*Pay attention to what you are doing...ALWAYS.
*Have a break every now and again. Fatigue breeds complacency, which in turn causes errors, mistakes and problems.
Cheers, Vince
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
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SwampFox Super Member
Joined: Jul 15, 2005 Posts: 1040 Location: Destin, Florida
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:04 am Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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Guys, Vince brought up a good point, water.
Unfortunately I know the effect from experiance. I make alloy in the winter. Years ago while casting I dropped a battery terminal about the size of a D cell battery, from a broken-up battery into my 100# pot. I did not see that ice had formed in a very little cavity on the bottom of the terminal. There was an instant explosion which blew half (50#) of the pot into the air in a 40 foot in diameter circle, luckily I wore glasses at the time and due to the cold had a heavy jacket on and gloves. It was unbelieavable how violent the explosion was. I found shards of lead stuck into and onto stuff for months. Luckily I just had droplet size blisters on my face around the glasses. I lost a bit of hair also. So, be careful about water.
Best,
Ed
_________________ The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-Winston Churchill |
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Pumpkinslinger Super Member
Joined: Sep 22, 2007 Posts: 5001 Location: NC foothills
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:51 am Post subject: Re: Lead level in the blood |
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Yep Vince, I drop strips of used dryer sheets in my tumbler, a trick I think I learned here on HuntingNut.
_________________ Mike
"I ain't no better than anybody else, and there ain't nobody better than me!" Ma Kettle |
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