Blood lead in Swedish police officers.
BACKGROUND
Shooting with lead-containing ammunition in firing ranges is a well-known source of lead exposure in adults, and police officers may be at risk of lead intoxication. More stringent national lead regulations stimulated a survey of blood lead (PbB) in Swedish police officers with regular shooting habits.


METHODS
Police officers considered as the most active shooters on and/or off duty responded to a questionnaire about health, lifestyle, shooting habits, and potential lead exposure. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for PbB and a multivariate regression analysis was performed.


RESULTS
The mean PbB in male officers (n = 75) was 0.24 mumol/L (5.0 micrograms/dL); range 0.05-0.88 mumol/L (1.0-18.2 micrograms/dL), and in female officers (n = 3) it was even lower (0.18 mumol/L; 3.7 micrograms/dL). For both sexes combined, a positive correlation (r = 0.55; P < 0.001) of PbB with the number of bullets annually fired both on and off duty was observed, and this finding remained in a multiple regression analysis including age, smoking habits, and latency from last shooting exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, occupational and recreational lead exposure from firing ranges still seems to be a source of lead exposure in Swedish police officers, but it no longer appears to be a health risk. Lead-free communication and well-ventilated indoor firing ranges may have been decisive for this encouraging finding.
Löfstedt
H
H
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Orebro Medical Centre Hospital, Sweden. hakan.lofstedt@orebroll.se
Seldén
A
A
Storéus
L
L
Bodin
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016495:Police; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors
D007854:Lead