Lead exposure in indoor firing ranges.
Higher air lead levels (time-weighted average 660, range 112-2238 micrograms/m3) were measured in firing ranges where powder charges were employed than in ranges where air guns were used (4.6, range 1.8-7.2 micrograms/m3); levels in the latter were in turn higher than those in ranges used for archery (0.11, range 0.10-0.13 micrograms/m3). Twenty-two marksmen who used powder charges had significantly increased blood lead levels during the indoor shooting season (before: median 106, range 32-176 micrograms/l; after: 138; range 69-288 micrograms/l; P = 0.0001), while 21 subjects who mainly used air guns displayed no significant increase (before: median 91, range 47-179 micrograms/l; after: 84; range 20-222 micrograms/l). Thirteen archers had significantly lower levels than the pistol shooters before the season (P = 0.006), and showed a significant decrease during the season (before: median 61, range 27-92 micrograms/l; after: 56; range 31-87 micrograms/l; P = 0.04). At the end of the indoor season, there was a significant association between weekly pistol shooting time and blood lead levels.
Svensson
B G
BG
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Schütz
A
A
Nilsson
A
A
Skerfving
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms; D006686:Hobbies; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D012931:Social Environment; D013548:Sweden
D000393:Air Pollutants; D007854:Lead