Are there any risks from handling lead pellets?

[Barryg]

Do you fancy any of these conditions ?
Symptoms
Exposure to lead can be harmful especially to unborn babies and young children. Children absorb more lead than adults due to their growing bones and other organs which lead can become deposited in.

The signs and symptoms in young children can include:

irritability and fatigue
loss of appetite and weight loss
abdominal pain
vomiting
constipation
hearing loss
developmental delay and learning difficulties
Although children are at increased risk of the effects of lead poisoning, exposure via drinking contaminated water can also result in illness in adults. Even if you are experiencing these symptoms, it does not always mean you have lead poisoning.

One of the reasons paint containing lead was banned from children's toys .




Symptoms in adults can include:

high blood pressure
abdominal pain
constipation
joint and muscle pain
pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities
headache
miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women
fatigue
memory loss
If your property has lead pipes and you or your children are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your GP.

Yes other things cause they symptoms bit the more you can do to stop adding more of these things that cause them the better

So does that mean it is safe to handle lead pellets or not

[bighit]

So does that mean it is safe to handle lead pellets or not

Yes but wash your hands afterwards and the same with children and dont eat them obviously.

Yes I know lots of houses still have lead pipes.

[Barryg]

Yes but wash your hands afterwards and the same with children and dont eat them obviously.

Yes I know lots of houses still have lead pipes.

Can your hands contaminate other things before you wash them?

[bighit]

Can your hands contaminate other things before you wash them?

Yes. Studies have shown that people who work with lead could transfer lead via their skin hair and clothing to their families.


You can absorb lead via your skin too according to some studies others say you can't.

Quote
Some studies have found lead can be absorbed through skin. If you handle lead and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you could be exposed. Lead dust can also get on your clothes and your hair.

Yes it's a 14 year old report. It may still be valid today.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lea...0your%20family.

Will you absorb enough through handling pellets? Depends how many you handle and over what time frame but I dare say it wont affect many shooters.

I still wash my hands before eating after handling them or wear gloves out in the field. Though I did not in the past.

[Barryg]

Yes. Sneeze on into your hands and touch something and you can pass on viruses like the flu and the cold.

You can absorb lead via your skin too according to some studies others say it's safe .

Quote
Some studies have found lead can be absorbed through skin. If you handle lead and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you could be exposed. Lead dust can also get on your clothes and your hair.


Will you absorb enough through handling pellets? Depends how many you handle and over what time frame.

I was hoping to get a more reassuring answer that lead pellets were safe for use in our hobby/sport but I guess that there is no burying your head in the sand these days with the info on the old tippy Tappy

[bighit]

I was hoping to get a more reassuring answer that lead pellets were safe for use in our hobby/sport but I guess that there is no burying your head in the sand these days with the info on the old tippy Tappy

It's there if you want to find it. Lead is toxic that's a fact .
Handle them whatever way you think is safe for you.

Most on here are in the older age bracket so it may not matter to them but if they let their children handle them it may affect them quicker as the info above states.

I edited out the sneezing as that's common knowledge that most people would know.

[angrybear]

Remember most pellets are not pure lead they're an alloy and as most are harder there's going to be less cross contamination,
and if they're coated in some form of lube probably less again.

I'm sure if you were up to your elbows in pellets all day every day there would be serious health risks,
same as if you ate fast food every meal of every day that would be a serious health risk.

[Logunner]

Yes I know lots of houses still have lead pipes.

Phosphate is added to the water to mitigate lead pipes, it creates a lining by sticking to the lead and therefore reducing the exposure.

[bighit]

Phosphate is added to the water to mitigate lead pipes, it creates a lining by sticking to the lead and therefore reducing the exposure.

I read about Pb02 scale in lead pipes . It stops the lead leeching from the pipes.