Hi all, I searched and couldn't find any relevant threads other than the one about building an indoor range in your basement.
I've been pretty tired for the last few years it seems all the time. I'm mid fifties and just chalked it up to getting older. I just had a physical for the first time in a long time and asked for a lead test. Results just came in and they came in higher than normal (26.2), normal range is under 3.5. I worked as a mechanic for many years and can't tell you how many uncoated lead wheel weights I touched in that time-easily in the thousands and long before we started wearing gloves of any kind. I'm pretty careful about using lead off soap and wipes when I am done shooting. I've only had my LTC for a few years, but I do shoot a decent amount of 22 for my bullseye league. Waiting to hear back about options from the doc. Just wondering what others have experienced and how high their lead levels were, did the level ever come down, what did you do to mitigate the lead, etc.? There's no guarantee that the high lead level is causing my fatigue and tiredness, probably going to have a sleep study done too to see about the quality of sleep I am getting. Thyroid, testosterone, and everything else came back in normal ranges.
Anyone have anything to share?
So sorry to hear that, but good you know.
I’m not a Dr but I figured I’d see what the world’s most advanced AI has to say in terms of things you can do to help. The parts about supplements that bind to lead in your bloodstream so they can be eliminated seem worth exploring and definitely stop any further ingestion/absorption.
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I’m not a medical professional, but I can share some general, commonly accepted information about elevated lead levels and how they’re typically addressed. Ultimately, it’s crucial that the person work closely with a physician—preferably someone experienced in environmental or occupational medicine—to decide on the best course of action. However, here are a few points that are often recommended in situations like this:
1. Identify and Eliminate Ongoing Exposure
• Shooting Range Precautions: If he’s shooting indoors, ensuring that the range has adequate ventilation is key. Many indoor ranges have specialized ventilation systems to help minimize airborne lead. If the ventilation is questionable, or if he’s reloading ammunition with lead components in poorly ventilated areas, that can be a major contributor.
• Hygiene Measures: Washing hands thoroughly with dedicated “lead-removing” soaps (or even standard soap, but very carefully and for enough time) can help. Avoid eating or drinking in areas where lead dust may be present.
• Protective Gear: Wear gloves when handling ammunition or cleaning firearms, and use proper respiratory protection if there’s a possibility of lead dust in the air (e.g., during firearms cleaning or reloading).
2. Nutritional Support
• Ensure Adequate Intake of Key Nutrients: Diets low in calcium or iron can make lead absorption worse. Making sure he has enough calcium, iron, and vitamin C (which can aid in iron absorption) is sometimes recommended. While this won’t “cure” lead toxicity on its own, it can help reduce how much new lead the body absorbs.
• Stay Hydrated: Good hydration helps support kidney function and can help the body excrete toxins more effectively.
3. Chelation Therapy
• When It’s Used: Chelation therapy is a medical treatment used when blood lead levels are significantly high (often 45 µg/dL and above in adults, though some physicians might consider it at lower levels if there are significant symptoms). However, the threshold for initiating chelation can vary depending on symptoms, overall health, and physician judgment.
• Chelating Agents: Commonly used agents include EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic acid), and DMPS (Dimercaptopropane sulfonate). These medications bind to lead in the bloodstream so it can be excreted by the body.
• Risks and Benefits: Chelation therapy can have side effects (e.g., it can also bind to good minerals like calcium and zinc), so it’s usually reserved for people with clearly high levels or symptomatic lead toxicity.
4. Monitoring and Follow-Up
• Repeat Blood Tests: His doctor may want to monitor lead levels periodically—every few months—to see if levels drop once any ongoing exposure is reduced.
• Other Health Checks: Because lead toxicity can affect multiple organ systems, the doctor might look at kidney function, blood pressure, and other markers over time.
5. Additional Considerations
• Occupational Medicine Consultation: Since he was a mechanic and handled large amounts of lead in the past, an occupational medicine specialist could provide guidance on whether there are still environmental factors contributing to ongoing lead absorption.
• Environmental Assessment: If there’s any chance his home, plumbing, or older paint could be a source of lead dust, having an environmental assessment may be helpful.
• Lifestyle Factors: Getting enough sleep, watching alcohol consumption (excess alcohol can affect how the body handles toxins), and following other general health measures can be beneficial overall.
Takeaway
For a blood lead level in the mid-20s, doctors often start with “remove the exposure” plus close monitoring. Depending on symptoms and how the level responds once exposure is reduced, chelation might or might not be recommended. If he’s dealing with persistent fatigue—and lead is suspected to be a contributing factor—his physician might at least discuss the pros and cons of chelation therapy or other supportive treatments.
Because everyone’s situation is different, the best advice is to follow up with the healthcare provider for specific guidance, further testing, and personalized recommendations. But yes—there are definitely procedures (like chelation) and preventive measures that can help manage and eventually reduce elevated lead levels.
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