Lead levels in blood

I thought this might be of interest: Six months ago, my lead levels were 25mc/dl five times what is
considered "normal".
I started wearing an N95 mask at the indoor range, and had the levels tested again.  Result: 7.5mc/dl
I also started back on statin drug for cholesterol, so that may have had an effect, but Dr. Google says 
it won't.
Most physicians don't test for lead, my test had to go to Mayo for testing, but if you shoot indoors much
it might be a good idea.

At my regional hospital network I had to ask to add lead to my panel, but it came back a couple of days later with the rest of my results.

Are you sure the lead mask and statin were the only changes? I want to keep mine down too. I've taken to wearing gloves when handling spent cases and lead bullets. I've always religiously used lead soap but still got levels earlier this year higher than I wanted (shooting swaged lead indoors). I had gotten lax about wearing my mask, so I'm back to using that indoors too.

Adults will eliminate lead in the blood at different paces. I have been checked for lead during a visit. The blood samples weren't sent to any exotic medical facility. Levels of lead in blood must be reported to the appropriate state authorities after reaching certain levels. The minimum levels to be reported vary by state. For adults, taking certain precautions can help someone to keep the levels low.

Adults can reduce lead levels by: 

• Washing hands and face: Wash hands and face before eating or drinking 
  
  Eating and drinking in safe areas: Eat and drink in areas free of lead dust and fumes 
  
• 
  Wearing protective equipment: Wear a clean, properly fitted respirator with a HEPA filter in areas with lead dust or fumes 
  
• 
  Changing clothes and shoes: Change into different clothes and shoes before working with lead 
  
• 
  Showering after work: Shower after working with lead before going home 
  
• 
  Washing clothes separately: Wash clothes separately from other family members' clothes 
  
• 
  Vacuuming: Vacuum carpeting, rugs, and upholstery often with a HEPA vacuum 
  
• 
  Eating a well-balanced diet: Eat a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein-rich foods 
  
• 
  
  Lead is normally released very slowly from the body, but the body accumulates lead over a lifetime. The half-life of lead in adult blood is estimated to be 28 days. Lead poisoning can be treated with chelation therapy, which uses drugs that can be given orally or intravenously. 
  

SingleActionAndrew wrote:At my regional hospital network I had to ask to add lead to my panel, but it came back a couple of days later with the rest of my results.

Are you sure the lead mask and statin were the only changes? I want to keep mine down too. I've taken to wearing gloves when handling spent cases and lead bullets. I've always religiously used lead soap but still got levels earlier this year higher than I wanted (shooting swaged lead indoors). I had gotten lax about wearing my mask, so I'm back to using that indoors too.

That was the only change. I shoot Bear Creek's moly coated lead, and that is a regular 
load for me for about a year.

I used to shoot in two very dirty ranges a lot and my lead level went up. I started wearing a mask in those two places plus was just more careful in general and my number came back into line. Really depends on where you shoot IMO.

Deleted

Irrelevant 

Thanks

Great respect to you Bruce
Glad things are on upswing too

Our range ended up with dangerous levels of lead. Even the club house had high levels which turns out that the cleaning people were not cleaning under the bottom of all the tables, bottom of chairs etc. We have changed out our air handlers, filters, back stops and added things like adhesive matts to clean the bottom of your shoes when leaving. Certainly lead has come more into the line light in the shooting world.

As two doctors told me, lead testing is really only for young children. One doctor sent a request through. So, I cast my own bullets, melted my lead, shot indoors at least once a week only firing cast bullets at 11-13 BHN. My result came back 6.
One: the only lead exposure in the air is from the primer. To avoid lead, blow your nose thoroughly after shooting, wash hands and face, don't eat, drink, smoke, or masterbate while handling lead. Normal path is almost entirely oral.

D-Lead makes some great products. I keep a bottle of the soap in my bathroom. I take along a bottle of their liquid soap when I take kids to the indoor range and make sure that they use it to wash up after shooting.

I have a professional hazmat and firearms background.  I have access to an indoor range.  I do not shoot there.

I have participated at an indoor range where a company attached air monitors to several  shooters during a match. After the results were tabulated, a new air handling system was installed due to the excessive lead content in the air we were breathing.

Would like to see a way of testing existing indoor ranges without needing a professional on site to measure air purity. Maybe a strip of double-sided tape on the visor of a hat to be tested later for lead?