Lead bullets in pocket - Any health risks?

[Sig35seven]

You haven't experienced any or you can't remember experiencing any?

Remember experiencing what?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[gasmitty]

I mentioned this a few weeks back, but while the snubs are loaded with LSWCHPs, the speedloaders and speedstrips have JHPs since they deform less in the pocket.

[Devilsclaw]

We have been taught by all the product safety kooks that even being in the same room as lead is deadly. It's all hogwash. I can't imagine that carrying around lead in your pocket would ever hurt you in 300 years of doing so. Even if it did, whatever happened to just living life?

I don't recomend it necessarily, but as a kid I tromped around rattlesnake infested areas, played with matches, gasoline and fire, and melted lead for fun. My Dad and his forefathers made their own toy soldiers out of lead--imagine young boys entrusted to cast their own toys out of molten lead?!?!?! THE HORROR!

I played with lots of small toys as a child, and I never choked on anything. I usually rode in the pickup standing up in the front seat--didn't even know what a child safety seat was--heck they didn't exist. Played with BB guns and even chewed a little tobacco when I could get away with it. Grew up in a house with plenty of unsecured loaded guns that I never touched without permission, because I was taught that way.

Today, sometimes I occasionally drive without a seatbelt, tumble loaded rounds, smoke a few cigarettes, cast lead bullets by the hundreds, shoot old antique rifles that haven't been checked by qualified gunsmiths, eat tons of read meat, drink out of plastic cups, flirt with pretty women, and do a bunch of other stuff that would make the sissyified metrosexuals of today faint.

Live life and enjoy it while you are at it. Don't let people worry you about stuff that don't need worried about!

[ccw9mm]

I used to pick lead shot out of my teeth from the quail and pheasant we had shot. They say it could cause memory problems but I haven't experienced any.

You haven't experienced any or you can't remember experiencing any?

Remember experiencing what?

[Once]

You guys are too funny

[msc8127]

Out of all the ammo that I reload, i'd venture to guess that at least 70% of it uses plain old lead projectiles whether it be SWC's, RNFP's, or whatever other bullet profile. I have never even given lead exposure a second thought. It simply isn't something that is going to be significant providing that I don't use my teeth and digestive tract to evaluate the hardness of the lead / tin mixture used to get the projectiles to their desired hardness. Of course I don't hand my son a box of lead projectiles to use as toys / teething implements, but when handled by an adult with even the smallest amount of common sense, I sure can't see anything to be alarmed about. If I was going to have any problems with my practices, it would have happened by now...

[Once]

What were we talking about?

[QKShooter]

Metallic Lead is not absorbed through the skin.

IngestedLead can be problematic if ingested. Do not eat paint chips off of the wall.

Exposure to Lead is greatly more problematic for babies, children and developing brains.

The Romans used to use powdered Lead as a food seasoning and they ruled the world. Maybe we're missing something?

Just FYI Real Life Experience - I worked with the stuff nearly every day for many years. I polished it, soldered it, melted it, cast it, sanded it, electroplated it, scratch-brushed it, pickled it, stripped it, hammered it, etc...in addition to shooting it - and when I had was checking for possible Tinnitus causes I had my LEAD level checked and the result was "0" - so I honestly wouldn't worry about it.

[DoctorBob]

Actually, I worry about lead exposure. I probably shoot a couple hundred rounds per week on the average - some weeks a lot more. And my lead level is elevated into the yellow range (watch but don't treat).

You can limit your exposure in a number of ways:
Use TMJ (total metal jacket) such as the ones produced by Speer Lawman.
Wipe your hands (and face after shooting) with lead wipes http://www.amazon.com/Hygenall-LeadO...rds=lead+wipes

ALWAYS wash your hands befrore eating or preparing food.
Ask your primary care doctor to perform a lead level blood test for baseline purposes.

Lead entering the respiratory and digestive systems is released to the blood and distributed throughout the body. More than 90% of the total body burden of lead is accumulated in the bones, where it is stored. Lead in bones may be released into the blood, re-exposing organ systems long after the original exposure. Lead in the blood does NOT tell the whole story.

Some of the effects of excess lead are:

Neurological Effects

• Peripheral neuropathy (NERVE WEAKNESS)
• Fatigue / Irritability
• Impaired concentration
• Hearing loss
• Wrist / Foot drop
• Seizures
• Encephalopathy

Gastrointestinal Effects

• Nausea
• Dyspepsia
• Constipation
• Colic
• Lead line on gingival tissue

Reproductive Effects

• Miscarriages/Stillbirths
• Reduced sperm count & motility
• Abnormal sperm

Heme (blood) Synthesis

• Anemia
• Erythrocyte protoporphyrin elevation

Renal Effects

• Chronic nephropathy (kidney) with proximal tubular damage
• Hypertension

Other

• Arthralgia
• Myalgia

Please go to this link for a complete picture: http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2584/

[pfries]

I used to cast lead for a living (battery plant), your body will process it out, the real danger is in brain development of children. Just wash your hands when you should or before playing with an infant and you will be fine.
We would get pulled from the floor if our levels got above 25 ppm and within two weeks levels would be back down most of the time. If you donate blood it will go down even faster, carry on.