This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Alf Fischbein, MD; Carol Rice, MS; Laszlo Sarkozi, PhD; Steven H. Kon, PhD; Michael Petrocci; Irving J. Selikoff, MD

JAMA. 1979;241(11):1141-1144.

Abstract
Members of law enforcement agencies were examined for adverse health effects caused by their activities in firing ranges and exposure to lead. Central nervous system and gastrointestinal symptoms were prominent and correlated with blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels. Half the group had blood lead levels exceeding 40 µg/dL, and four (5%) exceeded 60 µg/dL. Environmental surveys of three firing ranges indicate that indoor facilities with insufficient ventilation may have considerable air lead concentrations with levels up to 900 µg/cu m or 4.5 times the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard for an eight-hour shift. Evaluation of lead effects should be taken into account in medical surveillance programs of firearms instructors. Zinc protoporphyrin determination has proved a suitable and practical way to assess biological effects among exposed persons and should be available at medical facilities responsible for the health of indoor firing range employees.

(JAMA 241:1141-1144, 1979)

Author Affiliations
From the Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine (Drs Fischbein and Selikoff, Ms Rice, and Mr Petrocci) and the Department of Chemistry (Drs Sarkozi and Kon), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, New York.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1 Gustave L. Levy PI, New York, NY 10029 (Dr Fischbein).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Home on the Range: Childhood Lead Exposure Due to Family Occupation
Moore and Ducatman
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1995;149:1276-1277.
ABSTRACT  

Overexposures to Lead at a Covered Outdoor Firing Range
Tripathi et al.
International Journal of Toxicology 1989;8:1189-1195.
ABSTRACT  

Correlation Between Biochemical Indicators of Lead Exposure and Semen Quality in a Lead-Poisoned Firearms Instructor
Fisher-Fischbein et al.
JAMA 1987;257:803-805.
ABSTRACT  

Paint Spray Gun Injury of the Hand: Report of an Unusual Source of Lead Poisoning
Lilis et al.
JAMA 1981;246:1233-1235.
ABSTRACT