Lead is no longer used in gasoline because it is toxic. Old lead base paints inside houses are a danger to children. You all know that. Recent medical work I had done indicated too much lead in my body. The answer to me was obvious. I mess around with old bullets frequently.

Collectors, diggers, sellers, people who mess with bullets need to know. The old line in western movies, "Eat lead" is a trite tag line and one relic seller uses a variation of it for his name. Don't eat lead. So, how else can some old bullets cause problems?

     Bullets used by reloaders which are the standard lead type are a potential hazard. So are the old ones, even if 600 years old. You touch bullets with perspiration on your fingers. That can cause you to pick up micro amounts of lead. Transfer it to your cigarette, to your potato chips, to whatever you ingest and you build up a lead problem.

     Breathing the dust from dug bullets may also give you lead. People who cast bullets for reloading inhale lead vapor.  Forced air exhausts are used in industrial situations where there are toxic materials. Casting lead in a closed space with no ventilation would maximize your exposure.

     Handling lead such as in reloading or working with antiques suggests the following cautions. WASH AFTER HANDLING LEAD OBJECTS BEFORE EATING, ETC.

I have too much lead in my system because I handle antique bullets and musket balls. (THIS IS A SERIOUS HOBBY and I work with, measure,touch and catalog old bullets for a while most days, thus I handle lead much more often than most people do.)But my doctor told me the highest lead level he had in a patient was because of  INHALED LEAD. He has a patient who casts bullets for reloading ammunition. Electrical workers were once at risk  Some SOLDER no longer contains lead. Melting solder creates metal vapors which may accumulate in a enclosed space. Doing  a lot of soldering in a confined space may concentrate lead vapor.

     Melting pewter which contains LEAD to mold craft items or toys may be hazardous. TOY MOULD (MOLD) SELLERS frequently alert buyers to some hazards, and they may offer lead-free casting material. Casting FISHING SINKERS from lead will also be potentially hazardous, both from touching the sinkers and potentially breathing the fumes.

•      Do a web search for LEAD TOXICITY for additional information.
•      Three common tests are sometimes performed--hair analysis is longer perid of time showing lead accumulated while the hair has been growing, blood test shows lead currently circulating, and a chelation urinalysis to measure excreted lead.

     CASUAL CONTACT WITH LEAD briefly is normal. Using sinkers, or solder or touching lead bullets once in a while is not a problem one would hope. FREQUENT AND LONG TERM EXPOSURE requires some precautions.

     SHOOTERS who do a lot of shooting at indoor ranges need to be aware that modern primers contain lead. That is why the blowers are going in the ranges I have visited.

         Reloading equipment related to bullet casting usually contains warnings about melting lead in confined spaces, at least the new items in packages do.

IF YOU HANDLE LEAD ITEMS WASH BEFORE EATING.

IF YOU MELT LEAD OR ALLOYS CONTAINING LEAD, have fresh air moving.  Industrial applications would require a vent fan at minimum.