title: Exposure to lead in South African shooting ranges.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lead exposure in shooting ranges has been under scrutiny for decades, but no information in this regard is available in respect of African settings, and in South Africa specifically. The aim of this study was to determine the blood lead levels in the users of randomly selected private shooting ranges in South Africa's Gauteng province.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analytical cross sectional study was conducted, with participants recruited from four randomly selected shooting ranges and three archery ranges as a comparator group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 118 (87 shooters and 31 archers) were included in the analysis. Shooters had significantly higher blood lead levels (BLL) compared to archers with 36/85 (42.4%) of shooters versus 2/34 (5.9%) of archers found to have a BLL ≥10μg/dl (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shooting ranges may constitute an import site of elevated exposure to lead. Improved ventilation, low levels of awareness of lead hazards, poor housekeeping, and inadequate personal hygiene facilities and practices at South African shooting ranges need urgent attention.
authors.affiliation: South African Medical Research Council (Environment & Health Research Unit), PO Box 87373, Houghton 2041, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand (School of Public Health), PO Box Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; University of Johannesburg (Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences), PO Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathee
authors.affiliation: University of the Witwatersrand (School of Public Health), PO Box Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service (Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, National Institute for Occupational Health), PO Box 4788, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Jager
authors.affiliation: University of the Witwatersrand (School of Public Health), PO Box Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.affiliation: South African Medical Research Council (Environment & Health Research Unit), PO Box 87373, Houghton 2041, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand (School of Public Health), PO Box Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; University of Johannesburg (Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences), PO Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naicker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa; D054041:Weapons; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D007854:Lead
keywords: Blood lead; Firearms; Lead exposure; Shooting range; South Africa