From: ems@michael.apple.com (E. Michael Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Spent brass lead hazard... test kit found lead
Date: 7 Oct 92 13:00:01 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc.

[MODERATOR:  Michael posted these in sequence, but through
the wonders of moderation in news groups we can bring them
all to you in one message.   Michael, nice report, thanks
for sending it along!!]

Using a lead test kit sold for finding lead in old household paint
and stuff (like ceramics), I tested some spent 'brass' for lead.

The several times fired, never cleaned, 9mm brass lit up the 
test strip like a cherry, especially the edges where I'd slid it
up and down inside the brass.

(The kit, named the 'Verify (tm) LeadTest (tm)' indicates lead with
a pink or redish tint.  It claims to detect lead down to 5 ppm.)

The strip that I wiped on some spent shotgun shells (once fired ACTIVE
brand, all plastic) mostly has a dirty smudge on it, but the edges of
the dirty smudge are pinkish (just barely...).

I think this confirms that spent brass is a lead hazard, and that
handling it is a hazard (as would handling cleaning media, after use.)
I think it also means that repeated use without cleaning intensifies the
effect...

I'll be doing some more tests... such as testing on a sample of 'new'
brass to see if brass alone has enough lead contamination in the alloy
to set off the test strips... and testing the dust that falls out of
freshly fired brass just prior to cleaning.

When I have something interesting, I'll post it.
If anyone else gets anything interesting, please post too!

If anyone has a simple way to do a quantitative lead test, I'd like to
hear abou it.  I suppose I could make a solution and do serial dilutions
until I hit the 5 ppm cutoff, but at $1/strip for the little paper strips
that could get old in a hurry ...  Also, does anyone know where the
hazard level really starts?  Is 5ppm really a risk?

BTW, the way the kit works is that you wipe/soak whatever you want to 
test with vinigar, then 'wick' it 1/2 way up a little test piece (like
litmus paper).  When the strip dries, if it's redish or pink, that 
means lead.  One can also dampen the strip with vinigar and use it
to wipe and object, which is the technique I used.

[MODERATOR:  Later he posts ....]

Well, 4 tests later the lead tests are a bit odd.

First, a 'lead control' was done by wiping the bottom of a lead
bullet.  It gave a nice satisfying near magenta...

Then, a 'brass control' was done by wiping a Win. 9mm unfired cartridge.  
(similar to the spent brass.) It gave a dark pink/grey splotch.  It 
would seem that brass has enough lead in it to register on the strip...
(Or that the 'loading' process in automated equipment is not lead clean.)

(The parts of the lead and brass strips that were not rubbed on metal didn't 
register any color, and I think it qualifies as a 'zero lead' control).

Next, I did a 'vinigar wash' of the inside of a high base Remington 12 ga.
It showed a very nice salmon red.

Last, a similar wash of an Active 20ga. gave a very faint pink.

The Remington could be registering due to the brass in the base, or it
could be that it has more lead residue from the primer.

The ACTIVE could be such a weak register due to being all plastic, or due
to less lead in the primer.

In any case, they ALL registered positive ... 

What does all this mean?  

I think it means that I need to test some nickle plated brass 
(tomorrow ...) and that there is a lot of low level lead exposure in 
handling ammo, fired or not.  

I think it also means that I need to test some brass that has 
never been near a cartridge to see if it, too, tests positive...

I think it may also mean that this is a very sensitive kit ...

Any wisdom, insight, or bright ideas will be appreciated.

[MODERATOR: Finally, he posts....]

I couldn't wait till tomorrow ...  I did the nickle plated brass tests.

A CCI Lawman hollowpoint cartridge had it's nickle plated brass case
register a very slight tinge of pinkish.  I'd expect a couple of parts
per million of lead from the bullets, and that looks like what I got.
Nothing major, just on the lowest bound of color on the test strips.

An SW .38spl that had been fired once or twice had a nice layer of 
soot inside and a dingy look outside.

The outside test came up a nice bright red (kind of a beet red..).

The strip that I dampened and wiggled inside the case got the same
dark red where it wiped the soot.

A 'vinegar wash' of the inside of the case yielded a nice salmon pink/red.

For me, this sorts it all out.  The nickle doesn't contain any lead.
Once fired, the soot left on the brass is very lead rich.  A 10 second
vinegar wash is only long enough to pick up some of it.  Some shotgun
shells are very clean which is most likely due to not using lead primers,
but may have some residual lead from the shot (a few ppm).  Others give
a stong color due to lots of lead soot.

My guess is that handling fired brass is a significant risk and that
it is well worth it to find lead free primers, especially if you 
shoot alot.  Some kind of brass pre-tumbling wash/rinse is probably
a Very Good Thing.  (But what?)  Handling lead bullets is most likely
something to wash up well after.  Handling a lot of brass, even clean
brass, ought to warrant a hand wash too, since naked brass registers
with a lead content. 

Now I REALLY want lead free primers ...
-- 

E. Michael Smith  ems@apple.COM

'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has
 genius, power and magic in it.'  -  Goethe

I am not responsible nor is anyone else.  Everything is disclaimed.