Abstract
Background
Lead (Pb) is a toxic substance with well-known, multiple, long-term, adverse health effects. Although Pb-free bullets are available, due to lower costs most of bullets used in shooting ranges in Latvia contain high amount of Pb. Shooting at fire ranges can be related to work (e.g. security, police, military) or done as hobby (e.g. training for hunting, shooting as stress remover).
Methods
The objective of the study was to assess the air Pb concentration in closed shooting ranges in correlation with shooting during sampling and existence of proper ventilation. In total between January 2016 and February 2019 23 samples were taken with individual samplers either from breathing zone or stationary in 3 different ranges. Pb concentration was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Results
Out of 23 samples, in 6 cases Pb concentration in air exceeded 0.05 mg/m3 which is currently the occupational exposure limit value in Latvia. All of the exceeded levels were identified in 2 shooting ranges with highest level 5.4 mg/m3 in one range (ventilation working in normal regime), and 2.55 mg/m3 – in another. 5 of those samples were taken during shooting, 1 - outside the shooting range (in a corridor available to other members of public). In the 3rd shooting range all Pb levels were below the limit - samples were taken in recently renovated facilities when shooting was not performed and the ventilation was working.
Conclusions
Extremely high levels of Pb in air can be identified while shooting even in cases when exhaust ventilation has been installed and working; this can raise public health concern as premises located close to shooting ranges available to non-shooters can be contaminated. Further investigations regarding shooter behavioural aspects should be carried out in order to assess the exposure of general public from discharge of Pb in shooting ranges.
Lead (Pb) is a toxic substance with well-known, multiple, long-term, adverse health effects. Although Pb-free bullets are available, due to lower costs most of bullets used in shooting ranges in Latvia contain high amount of Pb. Shooting at fire ranges can be related to work (e.g. security, police, military) or done as hobby (e.g. training for hunting, shooting as stress remover).
Methods
The objective of the study was to assess the air Pb concentration in closed shooting ranges in correlation with shooting during sampling and existence of proper ventilation. In total between January 2016 and February 2019 23 samples were taken with individual samplers either from breathing zone or stationary in 3 different ranges. Pb concentration was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Results
Out of 23 samples, in 6 cases Pb concentration in air exceeded 0.05 mg/m3 which is currently the occupational exposure limit value in Latvia. All of the exceeded levels were identified in 2 shooting ranges with highest level 5.4 mg/m3 in one range (ventilation working in normal regime), and 2.55 mg/m3 – in another. 5 of those samples were taken during shooting, 1 - outside the shooting range (in a corridor available to other members of public). In the 3rd shooting range all Pb levels were below the limit - samples were taken in recently renovated facilities when shooting was not performed and the ventilation was working.
Conclusions
Extremely high levels of Pb in air can be identified while shooting even in cases when exhaust ventilation has been installed and working; this can raise public health concern as premises located close to shooting ranges available to non-shooters can be contaminated. Further investigations regarding shooter behavioural aspects should be carried out in order to assess the exposure of general public from discharge of Pb in shooting ranges.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 279-280 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |
| Event | Joint Conference of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIA) - Kaunas, Lithuania Duration: 18 Aug 2019 → 22 Aug 2019 https://www.isiaq.org/past_conferences.php |
Conference
| Conference | Joint Conference of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIA) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ISES-ISIAQ 2019 |
| Country/Territory | Lithuania |
| City | Kaunas |
| Period | 18/08/19 → 22/08/19 |
| Internet address |
Field of Science*
- 1.6 Biological sciences
- 1.5 Earth and related Environmental sciences
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)
