Reducing exposures to airborne lead in a covered, outdoor firing range by using totally copper-jacketed bullets

A study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of reducing or eliminating airborne lead concentrations at a covered, outdoor firing range by using totally copper-jacketed ammunition. Used in the study were 38-caliber-special police revolvers, and firings were conducted with 38-caliber, totally copper-jacketed bullets. The mean lead levels in general area air samples and personal breathing zone samples were 9.53 micrograms/m3 and 5.88 micrograms/m3, respectively, calculated as an 8-hr, time-weighted average (TWA). The mean copper levels in general area samples and personal breathing zone samples were 0.8 micrograms/m3 and 1.43 micrograms/m3, respectively. These concentrations in general area air samples and personal breathing zone samples were well below the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for occupational exposure to inorganic lead (50 micrograms/m3) and for copper (100 micrograms/m3). No significant difference was found between blood lead levels before and after firing totally copper-jacketed bullets. Based on comparison with results from a comparable study using nonjacketed lead ammunition, it was concluded that the use of totally copper-jacketed bullets significantly reduced airborne lead levels by a factor of 21 in the personal breathing zone samples and by a factor of 7.5 in the general area air samples.