Page 88 - JSOM Spring 2018

FIGURE 1 How lead escapes a semiautomatic pistol.
FIGURE 2 Lead exposure at a firing range. (Used with permission
from The Seattle Times.)
82 | JSOM Volume 18, Edition 1/Spring 2018
BLL has been positively correlated with the number of shoot-
ing sessions per year, number of rounds fired per month, and
bullets fired during last month. BLL was found to be elevated
(8.3μg/dL [standard deviation, ± 2.4μg/dL]) in study partici-
pants who used firing ranges more than 12 times per year,
compared with control subjects who used ranges fewer than
12 times per year (p < .001). Total rounds fired and air lead
6
levels were found to have positive correlations with BLL
(r = 0.84, p < .02; and r = 0.92, p < .001, respectively). The
7
number of bullets fired during preceding month (r = 0.71;
p < .001) or year (r = 0.55; p < .012) also correlated with
elevated BLL. 8
The CDC/NIOSH has documented significant risk of in-
creased BLL to police, recreational shooters, range employees,
and family members. Investigations performed by NIOSH
9
and the Washington State Division of Occupational Safety and
Health revealed that inadequate education, use of dry sweep-
ing, deficiencies in ventilation, and poor respiratory precau-
tions were causes of lead exposure. These studies also noted
that surface contamination, including vehicles and other hard
surfaces, were likely mechanisms by which family members of
those using firing ranges are exposed to lead. 10
Other work-related exposures are associated with metal pro-
duction and recycling, ceramics and plastics manufacturing,
radiator repair, welding, painting, and building renovation
or demolition. Principal recreational and other non–work-
11
related exposures derive from home-brewed alcohol (“moon-
shine”), herbal medicines, dietary supplements, cookware,
cosmetics, and home repair projects. Exposures for SOF
personnel may include use of firing ranges, automotive fuels
(when operating in nations without lead restriction), produc-
tion or creation of their own ammunition, and bodily reten-
tion of bullets or other missiles. 12
Before the 1980s, the primary source of lead exposure in the
United States was aerosolized combustion of tetraethyl lead,
an organic compound used as a fuel additive in automotive in-
ternal combustion engines. Leaded fuels are still used in Alge-
ria, Iraq, Yemen, Myanmar, North Korea, and Afghanistan. 13