Study: Gun range lead exposure poses ‘significant’ health risk

Lead dust discharged from firearms at gun ranges may be posing a significant health risk, a new analysis has concluded.

The review analysis of 36 studies conducted between 1975 and 2016, published recently in the journal Environmental Health, looked at the ways gun range lead exposure affected patrons, employees and family members.

For the analysis, the authors used the search engines Google Scholar, Pubmed and Science Direct to access studies related to blood lead levels (BLL) and firearms. From that search, 36 related articles were found from 15 countries around the world. Over half the articles were from the U.S.

The authors found that nearly all BLL measurements published in the reviewed studies exceeded the current maximum safe level of 5 μg/dL set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH).

In 31 studies BLLs > 10 μg/dL were reported in some shooters, 18 studies reported BLLs > 20 μg/dL, 17 studies > 30 μg/d, and 15 studies BLLs > 40 μg/dL. The studies found the higher levels of BLLs to be connected to lead discharge from guns at shooting ranges, number of bullets fired, and caliber of gun fired.

From those results, the authors concluded that shooting ranges are a ‘significant’ health problem, as many adverse heath outcomes have been connected to high BLLs, such as tremors, high blood pressure, heart disease, and decreased kidney function. High BLLs can also lead to complications in pregnancy and lower IQ and impaired cognitive function in children.

To decrease the health risk, the study’s authors called for better ventilation systems at shooting ranges, banning smoking and eating at shooting ranges, and developed airflow systems for outdoor ranges. They also suggest changing clothes after shooting.

To eliminate lead dust risk completely, lead-free primers and lead-free bullets would have to be used, the authors said.

The study also found that those most at risk are those who frequently shoot at ranges, such as firearms instructors, police and military personnel.

In order to reduce that risk, the Department of Defense has lowered its BLL standard to 20 μg/dL, NPR News reported. That level is three times lower than what it used to be.

DOD spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel James Brindle told NPR those changes were implemented after a National Academy of Sciences report published in 2012 also showed DOD personnel faced significant health risks due to lead exposure.

“DoD’s subject matter experts in toxicology and occupational medicine used the Committee’s report to propose the lower allowable blood lead level,” Brindle said.

The lead exposure issue remains divisive, with some gun rights advocates questioning the validity of and motivations behind such studies, including National Shooting Sports Foundation Vice President Larry Keane.

“Well, that’s their opinion,” said Keane. “We believe there are efforts by others that want to diminish people’s participation in shooting sports or exercise their Second Amendment rights. They put out or advocate positions that are unsupported by the evidence.”

One of the authors of the analysis, Gabriel Filipelli, made it clear to the Indy Star that the analysis was not meant to take a stance on gun rights.

“This is not an anti-gun paper,” Filippelli said. “It’s a pro lead-protection paper.”

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