Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 82-195-1200, US Secret Service, Washington, DC. [Indoor firing ranges]

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6329371

Lee, S A

The possible health hazards to United States Secret Service officers of exposure to airborne lead during the use of an indoor firing range, Washington, D.C., and Beltsville, Maryland were investigated. The Safety Division of the Department of Treasury requested the study which was performed on May 5, 1982. Four shooters at the Beltsville Range were exposed to an 8-hour-average (TWA) lead concentration of 38 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/m/sup 3/). During a 25-minute period they were exposed to a mean concentration of 720microg/m/sup 3/. Two shooters at the Washington range were exposed to concentrations of lead ranging from nondetectable to 18microg/m/sup 3/. One shooter was exposed to a copper TWA of 33.6microg/m/sup 3/. The author concludes that a potential hazard from overexposure to lead did exist. However, the officers would rarely shoot on a daily basis, and ventilation design appeared adequate for normal use. Recommendations for limiting the use of lead bullets and improving ventilation are provided.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6329371
• Report Number(s): PB-89-145460/XAB; HETA-82-195-1200
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
AMMUNITION
BUILDINGS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL BUILDINGS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
LEAD
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
TOXICITY
VENTILATION