Arm Yourself: you're missing a trick coping with lead, you may like this.

[Solvedit]

I am not a doctor.  This is all a theory based on gleanings from the internet.  Do talk to a doctor if you have any health conditions involving any of the things mentioned. 

When DMSA first came out, articles claimed it can cross the blood-brain barrier.  

Later research suggested early studies had used rats and it usually cannot cross the blood-brain barrier in humans, if the gleanings of an utterly medically untrained layman can be believed.

To the utterly medically untrained layman, the solution would seem to be to inflame the blood brain barrier by having a few drinks with treatment.  Maybe even several. 

Not wine, because it has anti-inflammatory compounds.

To the utterly medically untrained layman, it would seem hard liquor is best especially if it's aged in wooden casks.  

To the utterly medically untrained layman, it would seem the DMSA should be taken on an empty stomach with alkaline water because its acidity may upset the stomach.  A half teaspoon of baking soda in a quart of water may do the trick. 

To the utterly medically untrained layman, it would seem it is not necessary to drink during the whole course of treatment because the point of taking DMSA for several days is the liver and kidneys don't eliminate it all right away and some of the lead can be released back into the system.  It is not necessary to cause inflammation to get DMSA to the liver and kidneys.  

If a layman is right about a little inflammation being desirable in this case, then DMSA which is compounded with as little vitamin C as possible should be chosen because vitamin C fights inflammation.  

12 second short video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/S0mVqiowP40 

Please consider reading these very few short paragraphs or just the conclusion at the bottom of the 1/3 page length article:
https://ammo.com/comparison/tmj-vs-fmj#:...ammo%20has

Some ad copy I surfed across while researching this claimed exposure only goes down by 80% when going to an enclosed base bullet but does not go away.

DMSA eliminates lead through the kidneys.  I have heard some say that it is best not to go in the public water system when treating.


**Mod. edit -- Moved to Health and removed from title, 'Part 2', referencing an unrelated thread in Social Issues & Civil Unrest** 

[David64]

They don't say how much we're exposed to. I'm sure avid shooters get much more than casual shooters, but what levels are we talking here ?

I have no doubt we are getting lead exposure, but I've been shooting on a pretty regular basis for 55 years and no problems yet. Granted, I've rarely shot indoors. I live in the country and we don't really have indoor ranges, so maybe being in open air helps mitigate the exposure.

[Solvedit]

They don't say how much we're exposed to. I'm sure avid shooters get much more than casual shooters, but what levels are we talking here ?

I don't personally know.  I have had jobs which involve lead exposure & some communities I've lived in still use lead pipes.  Remember Flint?  Someone was doing a bad job treating the water. 

They say there's no safe level.

[PorkChop96]

I am not a doctor.  This is all a theory based on gleanings from the internet.  Do talk to a doctor if you have any health conditions involving any of the things mentioned. 

When DMSA first came out, articles claimed it can cross the blood-brain barrier.  

Later research suggested early studies had used rats and it usually cannot cross the blood-brain barrier in humans, if the gleanings of an utterly medically untrained layman can be believed.

To the utterly medically untrained layman, the solution would seem to be to inflame the blood brain barrier by having a few drinks with treatment.  Maybe even several. 

Not wine, because it has anti-inflammatory compounds.

To the utterly medically untrained layman, it would seem hard liquor is best especially if it's aged in wooden casks.  

To the utterly medically untrained layman, it would seem the DMSA should be taken on an empty stomach with alkaline water because its acidity may upset the stomach.  A half teaspoon of baking soda in a quart of water may do the trick. 

To the utterly medically untrained layman, it would seem it is not necessary to drink during the whole course of treatment because the point of taking DMSA for several days is the liver and kidneys don't eliminate it all right away and some of the lead can be released back into the system.  It is not necessary to cause inflammation to get DMSA to the liver and kidneys.  

DMSA which is compounded with as little vitamin C as possible should be chosen because vitamin C fights inflammation.  In this rare case, a little inflammation is desirable.

12 second short video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/S0mVqiowP40 

Please consider reading these very few short paragraphs or just the conclusion at the bottom of the 1/3 page length article:
https://ammo.com/comparison/tmj-vs-fmj#:...ammo%20has

Some ad copy I surfed across while researching this claimed exposure only goes down by 80% when going to an enclosed base bullet but does not go away.

DMSA eliminates lead through the kidneys.  I have heard some say that it is best not to go in the public water system when treating.


**Mod. edit -- Moved to Health and removed from title, 'Part 2', referencing an unrelated thread in Social Issues & Civil Unrest** 

Coming from someone who has been a fairly avid shooter for the better part of the last 20 years, I can say that your actual risk for lead exposure while shooting, be it indoor or outdoor, is lower than low.

Yes, technically a FMJ projectile has exposed lead at the base of the projectile. But, that only really matters if you are pulling that projectile from the case and touching it or if you reload. (Which if you are an avid enough shooter that you reload, you know to wear proper PPE and to be properly ventilated while doing so) 

Any indoor shooting range, at least in my area/state, are required to have ventilation and some sort of air purification in the shooting area to deal with the particulates in the air from the gunpowder and any particulate that might come off of the projectiles after being shot. This is a large reason as to why you are not allowed to shoot hard targets such as steel indoors as the impact will create a higher concentration of lead in the air. 

As far as shooting outdoors, your risk of lead exposure is limited to what you actually handle at your shooting bench, you are not going to be dealing with the gunpowder "fumes" or anything else of that nature. 

As I said at the beginning of this post, I have been shooting for the better part of 20 years, and it wasn't until the past 5 years that I was even really consciences of the "exposure" I was getting while shooting. Now yes, I was always aware that lead is in ammunition, but I was never conscious of the risks and I have never seen any side effects from that exposure.

[Solvedit]

Yes, technically a FMJ projectile has exposed lead at the base of the projectile. But, that only really matters if you are pulling that projectile from the case and touching it or if you reload. (Which if you are an avid enough shooter that you reload, you know to wear proper PPE and to be properly ventilated while doing so) 

From https://www.usacarry.com/lead-risks-shoo...arms-ammo/ 

"FMJ ammo and lead slugs both introduce substantial amounts of airborne lead vapors into the air. Most FMJ have exposed lead bases and the hot gases vaporize lead at the base of the bullet. I understand that, generally, only TMJ or plated bullets eliminate lead vapors."

Please consider taking a glance at the short video in the OP.

Search for yourself if you doubt my quote.  It was on the first page I googled on "lead exposure fmj bullet."

[PorkChop96]

From https://www.usacarry.com/lead-risks-shoo...arms-ammo/ 

"FMJ ammo and lead slugs both introduce substantial amounts of airborne lead vapors into the air. Most FMJ have exposed lead bases and the hot gases vaporize lead at the base of the bullet. I understand that, generally, only TMJ or plated bullets eliminate lead vapors."

Please consider taking a glance at the short video in the OP.

Search for yourself if you doubt my quote.  It was on the first page I googled on "lead exposure fmj bullet."

I read your OP and watched the video, I am well aware of the actual exposure to lead you receive with lead based ammunition. Again, I have been dealing with this "issue" for the last 20+ years, I am not seeing anything new in this article. Ammo companies and everyone associated with shooting sports has to put out warnings that you can be exposed to lead and other harmful chemicals while using these products. 

You are never going to eliminate lead exposure/vapors on a shooting range, it's impossible. You can mitigate it by knowing how to safely handle and use lead based products but you will never eliminate it completely. 

Have you ever seen California Prop 65? You know, that little sticker/warning label that is on almost everything you come into contact with in your everyday life. You are exposed to more toxic chemicals in your every day life than if you were to go to the shooting range a couple times a month.

[Moon68]

Commercial ranges require downdraft HEPA ventilation systems. If one is going to spend half a day shooting at an indoor range followed by hours of hand loading lead ammo then goes to eat fried chicken, sucking all the grease off their fingers, without ever washing their hands then any excess lead exposure is on them.

[Solvedit]

Duplicate post, sorry.

[Solvedit]

Yes, technically a FMJ projectile has exposed lead at the base of the projectile. But, that only really matters if you are pulling that projectile from the case and touching it or if you reload.

As far as shooting outdoors, your risk of lead exposure is limited to what you actually handle at your shooting bench, you are not going to be dealing with the gunpowder "fumes" or anything else of that nature. 

You'd be more afraid of touching the lead at an FMJ's bullet base than what's going on with it in my short video clip?  It's 12 seconds long.

[PorkChop96]

You're afraid of touching the bullet but not of what's going on with it in my short video clip?  It's 12 seconds long.

Did I ever say I was afraid of any of it? If you are having a hard time understanding the information I am giving you, please by all means, ask a question. But do not assume something about me when you have the least amount of knowledge on the subject at hand. 

If all you are going to do is fearmonger over lead and try to hock this DMSA crap, then I guess we are all wasting our time here.