Agenda - Council - 02/11/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Y VlJVL1VLLJ 1 UJLIIIIV LJLi L/L1V11 V11V Although the greater part of the indoor firing range lead problem appears to be chronic exposure over time, there are several reported cases of catastrophic effects due to intensive short-term exposure. For example, a police firearms instructor in New Hampshire died in his sleep of acute respiratory failure following exposure to lead dust and gases during a five-day training course at an indoor firing range.37 At least one shooting range employee in the same state was also diagnosed as having suffered a chronic lung disease from a single day's intensive exposure. The employee cleaned up lead dust deposits wearing only a painter's mask, after members of a security firm spent a day of heavy shooting at the range.38 Maintenance employees are at especially high risk if proper procedures are not followed. The highest blood lead levels ever recorded by the Baltimore City Health Department (as of 1988) were in an attendant who regularly swept up in an amusement park shooting gallery.39 A 17-year-old part- time employee at an indoor rifle range developed abdominal pain within one month's employment, and vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and constipation after five months.40 Unfortunately, as California authorities have observed, "many ranges contract out range cleanup to other firms that may be even less aware of the potential for lead poisoning in this industry.i41 Standard users of indoor shooting ranges are also at risk. Officials at the California Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Program currently report seeing elevated blood lead levels "among recreational and competitive shooters.i42 A doctor at Boston's Children's Hospital reported in 1999 the cases of four adolescent girls with elevated lead blood levels, all of whom were competitive shooters at an indoor firing range.43 A public health doctor in London reported in 1994 that three out of four regular shooters at a Manchester range had lead blood levels so high that six-month monitoring of their blood levels would have been required had the exposure resulted from working in industry.44 SHOISNELL RELOADING ADE EASY TEST FIRE: RR '44 AR3N Cover, Insights, January 1998 A landmark study in Colorado dramatically demonstrated the risks to indoor range shooters. After getting frequent reports of elevated lead blood levels from firing range employees or users, Colorado public health officials tracked 17 members of a law enforcement trainee class during and after a three-month period of firearm instruction at a state-owned indoor firing range.45 Despite the http://www.vpc.org/studies/leadone.htm 2/5/2014