Do You Worry About Exposure To Lead?

[TNBassin']

I never gave it a ton of thought until recently, but almost all of our gear contains or is made of lead. I always wonder what effects, if any, will pop up over the course of our fishing lives with being exposed to lead every time we go fishing. Maybe I'm over thinking it a bit, but you never know. Anyone else worry about this?

[SirSnookalot]

Unless you're sucking on a split shot all day long or working in a lead smelting operation I wouldn't worry about.  

[Bluebasser86]

Don't bite split shots to close them and if you pour anything make sure you do it in a well ventilated area and you'll be fine. 

[Crestliner2008]

Think about this. Billions of people have drunk water through lead soldered pipes for a hundred years. I've also poured my own lead jigs for years and years. I'm 68 and still kicking. Unfortunately, we have a lead ban here in MA, so I no longer have the option of using it for fishing, due to two loons that ingested lead sinkers. Sad state of affairs. Of course, no one cites the fact that our loon population has tripled over the past 10 years. That doesn't seem to count. The "tree huggers" got their way.

[BassinLou]

Nope. Keep it away from your mouth and do not breath in fumes if your making your own weights.

[Sam]

Nope. Never enters my mind.

 

More worried about exposure to sun and wind.

[flyfisher]

Nope more concerned with UV exposure myself.

[Felix77]

I had lead poisoning as a child and this did cross my mind. As long as you wash/sanatize your hands regularly you will be OK.

If you are exposed its in trace amounts. Just don't suck on them like candy and you are alright.

[Fishing Rhino]

Nope.

[Brian Needham]

we grew up baiting our hooks, biting our own split shot on/walking around with it in our pockets then taking a bite of our sammich......I think you'll be ok.

[CPBassFishing]

Not at all. I mainly use tungsten anyways. However, sun is what you should be worried about. Always wear sunscreen on a sunny day.

[BiteMe73]

After sucking in fumes from an aircraft carrier's smoke stack and breathing in jet fumes, the little bit of lead on tackle is the least of my worries.

[nascar2428]

Nope, I'm not eating lead. I worry more about whats in or on our food instead.

[WRB]

Use the Internet and look up lead positioning; Mao Clinc etc.

Continuous exposure to lead particulates (dust) or fumes from melting lead can be harmful to children and some adults. Don't worry about handling your lead fishing terminal tackle or unpainted lures like jigs. If it worries you, wash your hands.

Tom

[WRB]

After sucking in fumes from an aircraft carrier's smoke stack and breathing in jet fumes, the little bit of lead on tackle is the least of my worries.

Who's navy? Aircraft Carriers have been nuclear power for over 50 years, unless you are talking about the smaller flat tops.

Jet exhaust is a mixture of unburned fuel and sulfuric or nitrous acid, that could be a health issue; serving in the military is dfeinately hazardous duty.

Tom

[Teal]

Unless you're sucking on a split shot all day long or working in a lead smelting operation I wouldn't worry about.

Literally just laughed my butt off!

Im more worried about setting the hook and missing, thus turning my weight into a bullett thats flying at me than the usual handling of lead. To be honest, ive never really thought about it.

[Oldplug]

Well if it makes you feel better I have 65+ years been exposed to lead in fishing tackle. There was a time when I had real teeth that I put split shot on the line by chomping down on them. I have held sinkers in my mouth with my teeth while tying and re tying lines at night a awful lot over the years with no trouble. I have lead in sports fishing is dangerous unless you eat it and I never swallowed a sinker.

[Goose52]

As someone that just several years ago had a blood lead level of 47 micrograms/deciliter (lead poisoning level), I would say that after handling lead, it's always a good idea to wash your hands before eating, drinking, smoking, or otherwise getting your hands near your mouth. Now, if you only handle a lead weight a couple times a day while tying up a Texas rig, you will probably die of old age before feeling any effects from elevated blood lead levels. If you are sorting out a bunch of lead sinkers and have handled quite a few - for your health and safety you should be washing your hands. As has already been mentioned, if you are casting lead, you want cross-ventilation across the top of your furnace (and wear all protective gear like faceshield, gloves, apron, etc.).

 

There is indeed the potential to transfer lead into your system while handling the solid form, or breathing fumes during casting. The effects are minimal at low levels of exposure, but can be cumulative, depending on frequency and severity of exposure. Handle enough lead, enough times, and you run the risk of gradually increasing your blood lead level.

[Hyrule Bass]

never really worried about it as far as using fishing weights goes...

[*Hootie]

Spent 45 yrs. breathing welding fumes. Ain't skeered "o" nuthin!!!

Hootie

[*Hootie]

Blah blah blah......has been found by the state of California to cause cancer. Well, I'm not going to use my blah blah blah in California, so I don't care.

Hootie

[ww2farmer]

Of all the things I worry about, lead is wayyyyyyy way down there.

[Brian Needham]

is there anything that doesn't cause cancer in the state of California?

[BassinB]

I smoke regularly while I'm fishing, if I was going to worry about ingesting chemicals......

[flippin and pitchin]

Only if it's coming at me from a barrel.