Lead can negatively affect every organ in the body. High lead levels can cause high blood pressure, nerve disorders, muscle and joint pain, and infertility. Lead exposure is particularly harmful to developing babies. When the mother-to-be has lead present in her body, it crosses the placenta and can adversely impact birth weight and head circumference.
Low-level lead exposure can also have lasting effects on brain development. Lead exposure during pregnancy also increases the possibility of infertility, miscarriage, premature membrane rupture, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy hypertension, and premature delivery.
These conditions put the lives of both mother and baby at risk. Lead exposure is a serious issue for regular shooters. When a shot is fired, tiny lead particles from the primer discharge are released into the air. This airborne lead can be inhaled by the shooter or absorbed through the skin. The projectile is also a source of lead exposure. Bullets with a lead core can disintegrate due to slight imperfections in the barrel. As the combustion of primer and propellant create extreme heat, some of this lead becomes vapor and can then be inhaled or absorbed.
This is why even men who shoot regularly should be sure to wash up after range trips to mitigate any lead exposure risks. Although lead poses the biggest threat to shooters, other dangerous heavy metals are released during shooting as well.
These include antimony, boron, and manganese. While there is little research into the effects of low-level exposure to these metals, limited studies show no statistically significant link between exposure and general cognitive development. A standard. Anyone who has spent time on a gun range understands the level of noise produced when shooting. It is more concentrated on the hands but actually gets all over the shooters face, clothing, arms, and even into hair.
This residue can and often does contain lead particles. It is inhaled as the shooter breaths and if not washed off after a range session can seep into the pores on the skin. In addition to lead particles in powders, when the lead core of the bullet strikes a solid back stop it can fragment into tiny particles. If the range is not properly ventilated these particles can be aspirated by the shooter. Frequent shooters who spend most of their time shooting on indoor ranges should get their lead levels checked annually and keep informed on the maintenance schedule of the range to be sure that filters are being changed often and ventilation systems are properly maintained.
I worked for a year at an indoor gun store and range and while all of the employees had slightly higher than average lead levels we were all well within the range of normal which is considered anything under 10 and we were all in the range on a daily basis breathing in lead particles and I do have to admit that a LOT of snacking went on without washing our hands we lived dangerously. Even with all of that lead exposure most of the employees who were tested had levels between 4 and 6.
Those employees with levels around 6 were taken off range duty until those lead levels went down. I have, however, met shooters who have shot daily on old ranges that were not well ventilated in a time when the country was still relatively naive about lead and its effects. These shooters did not properly wash before eating or even going to bed and ended up with lead levels up to 16 and began experiencing the physical effects of lead poisoning and needing medical assistance to get those lead levels back under control.
Because of the understanding of the dangers of lead while shooting any reputable indoor range is required to have proper ventilation systems in place and in good working order and this is almost a non-issue for outdoor ranges. In all probability, if you went out to an outdoor range every week of your pregnancy and shot your firearm and were careful about washing your hands, face and clothes as soon as possible afterward and did not consume food or drink until you had washed, you would more-than-likely not see a single point rise in your blood lead levels.
Wearing gloves and a mask would protect you even further. There is, however, still an exposure that you would not get if you were not shooting. Will that lead exposure be enough of an exposure to hurt your baby? More-than-likely, no. There is, however, no scientific data to indicate how much lead exposure is "safe" for a developing fetus and it's a risk that many pregnant mothers have chosen not to take.
Not to mention that many ranges will not allow pregnant women shoot for the lead and noise pollution which becomes an issue somewhere between 13 and 16 weeks of pregnancy we will cover noise pollution in a later post. They can hear the husband whisper a few inches from the womb. Shooting something larger than a. A cop shooting a. The noise is one thing, but PTSD is also involved.
Random gunshots would have to cause emotional harm. There are so many things a pregnant women needs to be cognizant of.
Shooting should be one of them. While my wife was pregnant with both of our children, there were several things that she did not do. Now days, there are so many other options to keep up with drills and such. I have a couple of them. There are even laser drills.
I am not sure what I think about supression. Hire a dang security guard if you are that concerned about safety while pregnant.
Besides, we all know there is no time to think during a situation. So do your drills and you will be fine. I would temporarily or permanently give up a career, interest or hobby that posed a remote threat that I could try to avoid. Nine months is no time at all! Lead free ammo is available, but I would still be concerned about the noise. I agree with JSW when it comes to doubt.
Always trust your gut. Dear poster above tattoos will not cause shock or stress that will harm baby. That lead has potential to make it into your milk. Try though I may I have found no reliable source of information to indicate that that exposure is enough to harm your baby through your milk. Even so, some mothers choose to pump and dump the milk they express during and immediately after gun classes. That is your choice. Personally, I have not had an issue giving the milk I have expressed during gun classes to my children and the lead tests they have had in their childhood have all come back normal.
If you spend a significant amount of time on the range or work in an area that may be of concern, you can have your blood tested every 6 months and monitor your levels.
Julie Golob has a wonderful guide that dives deeper into issues of lead and noise exposure during pregnancy. Good news, you get to slack off! If you have latex gloves you can at least handle ammo. Many competitors and law enforcement officers are unable to wait 10 months or longer without a decrease in muscle memory. If you choose to live-fire during your pregnancy, shoot in an outdoor, well-ventilated area. Follow the tips listed, above. Be aware of risks of lead and noise exposure, and participate in moderation.
If you want more safeguards, you have many dry-fire options. Dry-fire practice with a clean, decontaminated gun is a great way to continue to keep your skills sharp and work on trigger press, target acquisition, and more. You can find a lot of drills in our Shooting Journal or you can buy dry-fire cards. Similarly, you can use a SIRT pistol , alone or in conjunction with target or laser-shot software. You can still stay ahead professionally or defensively, have fun with your friends and family, and keep your baby safe.
You must be logged in to post a comment. Share this page.
0コメント