Assessment of shooter's task-based exposure to airborne lead and acidic gas at indoor and outdoor ranges

The objective of this study was to measure the shooters’ task-based personal exposure to total fume, lead, and acidic gasses during two-hour shooting sessions at indoor and outdoor shooting ranges. Both pistols and rifles were used, and about 180 rounds of ammunition were fired per shooting session. Total fume was collected by inhalable and respirable fractions and determined gravimetrically. Airborne lead and acidic gasses were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer and an ion chromatograph, respectively. The results indicated that significant amount of aerosol mass was in the respirable fraction (0.4–2.8mg/m3) and inhalable particle range (0.6–3.5mg/m3). The respirable airborne lead concentration during two-hour shooting sessions was between 0.2 and 1.7mg/m3, although not directly comparable, were exceeding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 8-hr time-weighted-average permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.05mg/m3. Hydrochloric acid was detected at levels lower than the PEL, during some outdoor shooting sessions possibly due to the presence of corrosive ammunitions. Sulfuric acid was detected and above the PEL during outdoor shooting sessions, but potential measurement artifacts exist in the standard method. Indoor ventilation effectively removed gaseous pollutants, but unable to migrate the particulate fume and lead exposure to acceptable levels. Outdoor ventilation relied more upon natural weather and had a larger deviation. Rif...
Source: Journal of Chemical Health and Safety - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research