Author Topic: be careful (Read 987 times)

Lloyd Smale · « **on:** May 19, 2004, 12:32:37 AM »

ive had my lead tested about every two years and have never had a problem. Changed this time though. It tested at 69ppm way to high. I dont know what i did different but something sure changed it. they are putting me on a drug that is suppose to get it out of my system. Before you get conserned i cast alot more then the average guy. I probably have a half a million bullets casted right now. Anyone thats been in my barn will verify that statement. I guess its time for gloves and a resperator and some slowing down on the hobby. Ive been one thats preached for years that lead poisoning isnt a problem with casters but i guess i was wrong. The old forum leader here Billy Marr had a simular problem and his was even worse. Hes done casting and is crippled up from it. I hope that some of you that i used to send bullets to will understand that it cant be anymore. I will just cast for myself and only what i need. Be careful out there!

flintman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2004, 03:58:06 AM »

I used to use a respirator,but quit a didn't even cast for awhile,but started again more heavily this past fall.We all need to be sure to cast out of doors as well,I use a roofed 3 sided shed,but I am going to get my respirator out again!

Kragman71 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2004, 04:21:53 PM »

Lloyd,
I'm sorry to hear about your condition. I hope that the 'cleansing' medication will work for you.
You should'nt be surprised that you tested positive after a prior negative report. Lead poisoning is accumulative;this year,you added enough to go too high.
I have been tested twice;so far-so good. If I get the dry mouth and headache,I'll have another test.
I think that the test is a good investment for anyone who has a long history of an association with lead.
Frank

rickyp · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2004, 08:38:59 AM »

"Lead poisoning is accumulative"
This is very true. there is other ways to get lead poisoning then just casting bullets. In the Washington DC area they are now finding very high levels of led in the drinking waters. a few years ago they changed the way the water was "cleaned" and the chemicals that are being used are now bring the lead out of all the old solder, and pipes. there is also lead based paint in a lot of the older homes is just painted over and never removed and other environmental issues that you may not have thought of.

The casting along with one or more of the above will (you may not even know about) will cause your lead levels to go up

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2004, 08:46:46 AM »

Lloyd, were you casting indoors or outdoors?

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2004, 11:41:33 AM »

I cast indoors but in a 30x40 pole barn and usually have the door open I believe i picked up most of it by bad housekeeping and practices. I smoked while casting didnt wear gloves ect.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2004, 12:51:42 PM »

Lloyd - not good to hear about your lead count. I hope it's reversable.

I have a cousin (a neurosurgeon) who spent a lifetime working with serious lead poisening cases. There is probably a better selection of medicines now, but the only thing he found to help mitigate the effects was plain old vitimin C. It is cumulative & therefore worth prevention.

Best of luck.

hammerhead357 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2004, 05:43:54 PM »

Lloyd sorry to hear of your problem. I have enjoyed reading your posts. I hope everyone will pay attention to what you are telling them. In my opinion cleanliness is the main thing here. Don't eat, drink, smoke or do anything with your hands coming to your mouth, unless you scrub your hands with a good soap (Lava) and hot water and use a clean towel to dry your hands with each time.

At one time I sold about 40000 hand cast bullets per week and did most of the work myself and the last time I was tested my heavy metal count was below the national average.

Also good ventilation is of prime importance here also. Once again sorry to hear of your problem. Wes

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2004, 04:35:42 AM »

Lloyd,

Actually somebody here made a good point. You can get lead poisoning in other ways.

This is very important to realize. Because you cast bullets it's easy to pass this off as the source. But it's dangerous because if it's NOT the source, you aren't taking corrective action in the right place, and you will continue to get lead poisoning.

Think real hard about the fact that you've cast for many years, testing regularly, and never had a problem. You changed nothing about your lead casting habits.

Did you get a piece of fine pottery from Mexico or something like that? Pottery can contain lead glazes. Drinking juice, wine, or coffee from it can leach the lead out.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #9 on:** May 25, 2004, 12:19:36 PM »

I dont want to be the one who brings everyone down but i truely believe it was lead from bullet making. I have casted for quite a while but for the last two years ive really got into it. In the past year i know ive smelted down a ton of wws and dont have a clue as to how many bullets ive casted but its many thousand. Im not trying to say that casting is dangerous or that people should give it up I havent i casted bullets tonight. I just am going to start being a little more carefull about it.

Quote from: Black Jaque Janaviac

Lloyd,

Actually somebody here made a good point. You can get lead poisoning in other ways.

This is very important to realize. Because you cast bullets it's easy to pass this off as the source. But it's dangerous because if it's NOT the source, you aren't taking corrective action in the right place, and you will continue to get lead poisoning.

Think real hard about the fact that you've cast for many years, testing regularly, and never had a problem. You changed nothing about your lead casting habits.

Did you get a piece of fine pottery from Mexico or something like that? Pottery can contain lead glazes. Drinking juice, wine, or coffee from it can leach the lead out.

Orygun Mark · « **Reply #10 on:** May 25, 2004, 05:23:57 PM »

Lloyd,
Are you on a municipal water system. About 10 years ago we had a problem in one building. The PH of the water was leaching lead out of the faucets and eating the copper piping up. I had to hire an engineering firm to take on the local water board. Imagine a medical office building poisoning the people that came into it. I had done all the tests I could think of including PH but they wouldn't listen to us. The PH now runs around 6.8-7.8 instad of 5. Even if you aren't have the water tested for lead, PH and copper. Mark

larry357 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 25, 2004, 06:18:07 PM »

Lloyd, Hopefully medication will straighten you out soon. We,ll keep you in our prayers, Larry

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2004, 01:16:11 AM »

Quote from: Orygun Mark

Lloyd,
Are you on a municipal water system. About 10 years ago we had a problem in one building. The PH of the water was leaching lead out of the faucets and eating the copper piping up. I had to hire an engineering firm to take on the local water board. Imagine a medical office building poisoning the people that came into it. I had done all the tests I could think of including PH but they wouldn't listen to us. The PH now runs around 6.8-7.8 instad of 5. Even if you aren't have the water tested for lead, PH and copper. Mark

That used to be common knowledge about the old lead pipe - sometimes you could 'get away with using it' sometimes not - depending on the acidity of the water supply. Obviously just best to make boolets of it all.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2004, 03:48:39 AM »

Lloyd,

That's fine - if you think that it came from casting you are certainly the best one to make the call.

Also the increase in the amount could be a significant "change".

Does anyone know if the lead stays blood-born? I sometimes wonder if the old fashioned practice of bloodletting could benefit us in some ways. Today we just call it by a different name - "giving blood".

I've often thought of this as a way for men to lower cholesterol and iron. I'll have to give it a try.

Chief · « **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2004, 04:44:22 AM »

Black Jaque Janaviac,

If my understanding is correct it collects in certain tissues, mainly the bones. The body has no use for lead so it just accumulates. I've heard it said that it just stays there forever but I think the body does rid itself of small amounts over long long periods of time. The problem is we keep adding to the quantity in our bodies through various sources so the level seldom goes down without medical intervention.

Chief

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #15 on:** May 26, 2004, 08:59:38 AM »

Chief,

So this could mean that a person could have high lead from an earlier exposure - but it would be deposited in the bones or fat, and the lead level in the blood would not indicate a problem?

Or does the body maintain an equalibrium of lead in blood vs. lead in other tissue?

I know, I know - this is probably not the place to ask these questions.

rickyp · « **Reply #16 on:** May 26, 2004, 09:36:56 AM »

as stated before you body has no use for lead. It will store it anyplace it can until the body can remove it. it does get stored in the fat bones blood and any every place else.

Your body will get the lead out :-D given enough time and that the source is removed. this is the problem you can find lead in places you wouldn't ever think it could be. Yes lead will stack up in the body and over time get to be a problem

The drugs goes out and finds the lead in the body and rids the body of it ( everyone knows how)

This trend may not be the best place but the castimg forum is a very good place to put this information.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #17 on:** May 26, 2004, 01:16:12 PM »

No i have a well and it was tested when i put it in 3 years ago.

Quote from: Orygun Mark

Lloyd,
Are you on a municipal water system. About 10 years ago we had a problem in one building. The PH of the water was leaching lead out of the faucets and eating the copper piping up. I had to hire an engineering firm to take on the local water board. Imagine a medical office building poisoning the people that came into it. I had done all the tests I could think of including PH but they wouldn't listen to us. The PH now runs around 6.8-7.8 instad of 5. Even if you aren't have the water tested for lead, PH and copper. Mark