HunterSeven Foundation shared this information on Heavy Metal Toxicity.
Heavy metal toxicity isn’t restricted to just Lead. Other metals like Cadmium, Mercury, Chromium, Aluminum, and Uranium are considered toxic at increased doses/exposures as well.
While short term exposures (<24hr.) may cause acute symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, dry throat, cough, and a slight fever, a majority (~75%) of these metals will be excreted. The other 25% circulate in the blood for a month or so before entering soft tissues and in the bone.
Once the heavy metals enter the soft tissue and bones, the ‘acute’ symptoms lessen, as the metals are not ‘active’ in circulation.
On the other hand, those repeat exposures continue the process stated above. Multiple exposures have the same ending.
Heavy metals, like Lead, remain in soft tissue for a few months, whereas it remains in bones for upwards of 25 to 30 years. Cadmium is approximately 38 years.
As those exposures continue, the deposits in the bone continue as well. Slowly increasing more chronic, systemic symptoms, including the ones mentioned on the graphic.
So the question is how can we prevent these chronic issues from occurring?
1. The obvious, do your best to prevent these exposures, meaning using special cleaning wipes, protecting your oral and nasal cavity, shooting outdoors when possible, changing your clothes, not eating / drinking on ranges, etc.
2. If you’ve been exposed for a LONG time, and you are symptomatic, there are specialized providers who can test, assess, and treat chronic heavy metals exposures through ‘chelation’ therapy.
Chelation is tough on the kidneys, so it is ordered and monitored closely by medical staff.
Otherwise, certain foods have been promoted as detoxifying agents, which may be helpful in that acute period (time of exposure -to- 2 months).
This is the worst game of bingo, I have them all and don’t see a prize yet!
Workers comp wouldn’t cover my claim. I did oral and IV chelation which dropped my numbers quick.
Yeah, I always cringe a little when I see folks eating, drinking, and smoking while shooting. I get why they do it, but eventually you have to pay the piper.
Lead (Pb) Poisoning is what you’re supposed to give the other guy.
For folks who fire suppressed on a regular basis, know that fume concentrations at the shooters’ face are 2x-5x higher, making the matter worse. For example, peak hydrogen cyanide levels exceed NIOSH limits regularly, when suppressed.
I highly recommend that anyone interested in mitigating airborne particulate check out the Ventus TR2. It filters 94%.
https://ventusrespiratory.com
They even offer filter testing if you’d like to run your normal training tempo and then find out, from an independent lab, what you’d otherwise be inhaling.