I get my lead checked 3 or 4 times a year. I’ve been as high as 29 and I’m currently back down into the high-teens. I usually go to LabCorp.com and a lead blood test can be done at my local Walgreens. They have the results back in two or three days, and it costs me $50. It might even be covered on your insurance plan.
Working in a poorly-ventilated indoor range will spike lead levels, but they can be mitigated with enhanced hygiene techniques. D-Lead makes a variety of products. I can personally testify that the D-Lead line of body wash, laundry detergent, hand soap and hand wipes work well. Those go a long way so keep those items handy.
You can also use these test swabs to check your household items for lead. I know it says it’s for house paint, but it also detects lead from gun ranges. They even pick up lead in clothes. I’ve found that rubber and clothing retains lead longer than most other items, so it is recommended to wash clothes in multiple cycles using D-lead laundry detergent and using multiple rounds of D-lead wipes on rubber and plastic items.
Also you’d need EDTA chelation to remove the lead already in your body. I personally recommend Arizona Naturals, and I have the monthly subscription. Make sure you take a bone density supplement if you go that route. This is because your body sequesters lead within your bones. When those get removed, it weakens your bone density. So a bone density one-a-day is recommended.
Also keep lead away from your kids. If they test high, most states require doctors to report those lab results to the Dept of Safety and you don’t want your name on that list. If there’s ever a reason to manage the lead on your clothes and body, it’s to keep it away from my family. Lead exposure in children can stunt their brain development, so parents should make this a priority.
Lastly, long-time LE Instructor and expert witness Massad Ayoob even recommends that shooters change their shirt and shoes when they finish shooting. It’s a recommendation I share. It might be a pain in the butt, but only at first until you get used to it and make it a habit. This will minimize the amount of lead that gets into your car, and that keeps lead away from your kids.
Share this with your friends that shoot.
Email me if you have more questions.
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