DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Summary

Workers and users of indoor 

firing ranges may be exposed 

to hazardous levels of lead and 

noise. The National Institute 

for Occupational Safety and 

Health (NIOSH) recommends 

steps for workers and employers to reduce exposures.

Reducing Exposure to Lead and 

Noise at Indoor Firing Ranges

Description of

Exposure

According to the Bureau of Justice 

Statistics, more than 1 million Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers work in the United 

States [DOJ 2004]. They are required to train regularly in the use of 

firearms. Indoor firing ranges are often used because of their controlled 

conditions (see Figure 1). In addition 

to workers, more than 20 million active target shooters practice at indoor firing ranges. Law enforcement 

officers may be exposed to high levels of lead and noise at indoor firing ranges. NIOSH estimates that 

16,000 to 18,000 firing ranges operate in the United States. 

Several studies of firing ranges have 

shown that exposure to lead and noise 

can cause health problems associated 

with lead exposure and hearing loss, 

particularly among employees and instructors. Lead exposure occurs mainly through inhalation of lead fumes or 

ingestion (e.g., eating or drinking with 

contaminated hands) (see Figure 2) 

[NIOSH 2009].

Exposure Limits 

Lead

OSHA has established limits for airborne exposure to lead (see 29 CFR 

1910.1025*). The standard creates 

the action level and the permissible exposure limit (PEL). The action 

level for airborne lead exposure is 30 

micrograms per cubic meter of air 

(μg/m3) as an 8-hour time weighted 

average (TWA). The OSHA PEL for 

airborne exposure to lead is 50 μg/m3

as an 8-hour TWA, which is reduced 

for shifts longer than 8 hours.

The NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) for airborne lead is 

50 μg/m3 as an 8-hour TWA. A worker’s 

blood lead level (BLL) should remain 

*Code of Federal Regulations. See CFR 

in References.

Figure 1. Law enforcement officers 

during shooting practice. 

below 60 μg lead/100g of whole blood 

[NIOSH 2009].

Noise

For noise exposure, the OSHA limit is a maximum PEL of 90 decibels, 

A-weighted (dBA), averaged over 

an 8-hour time period (see 29 CFR 

1910.95). 

The NIOSH REL for noise (8-

hour TWA) is 85 dBA using a 3-dB 

exchange rate [see NIOSH 1998]. Exposure to impulse noise, such as that 
which comes from weapons, cannot exceed 140 dB sound 

pressure level (SPL).

Case Studies 

Case 1—Lead exposure of school

rifle teams

The Alaska Environmental Public Health Program initiated a statewide review of school-sponsored rifle teams 

after a team coach was found to have an elevated BLL 

of 44 μg/dL. The review examined six rifle teams using 

three indoor firing ranges. Teams using two of the firing ranges did not show elevated BLLs. The other three 

teams used a firing range with extensive lead contamination. The teams showed elevated BLLs.The highest level was 31 μg/dL, which is above the level considered elevated (25 μg/dL). The firing range was voluntarily closed 

and arrangements were made for a thorough evaluation 

[State of Alaska 2003; NIOSH 2009]. 

Case 2—Noise exposures of Federal 

and local law enforcement officers

NIOSH investigators conducted live-fire noise exposure 

evaluations of Federal and local law enforcement officers 

at indoor and outdoor firing ranges. Measurements were 

conducted on a variety of law enforcement firearms. Peak 

sound pressure levels ranged from 155–168 dB SPL. Aweighted, equivalent (averaged) levels ranged from 124–

128 dBA. Hearing protectors were also evaluated. Earmuffs had a mean peak reduction of 26 dB; earplugs 

alone had a mean peak reduction of 24 dB. The mean 

peak reduction for combined earmuffs and earplugs was 

44 dB. NIOSH recommended the use of this double 

protection for impulsive noise and also noise abatement 

strategies, modifications to the firing range structure, and 

a hearing conservation program [NIOSH 2009]. 

Recommendations

Workers and shooters at firing ranges should take 

the following steps to protect themselves:

 Take training, follow safe work practices, and participate in health monitoring programs.

 Use personal protective equipment (PPE):

— Use double hearing protection (earplugs and earmuffs).

— Wear respirators and full protective outer clothing for maintenance activities that involve close 

contact with lead dust or spent bullets.

Figure 2. Emissions from the discharge of firearms.
— Wear gloves and eye protection when using chemicals to clean weapons or firing range surfaces. 

 Practice good hygiene:

— Wash hands, arms, and face before eating, drinking, smoking, or contact with others.

— Change clothes and shoes before leaving the facility.

— Wash clothes used at the firing range separately 

from family’s clothes.

 Report symptoms to your employer and get medical 

attention when needed:

— Common health effects of lead poisoning in 

adults include reproductive effects, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss, 

anemia, fatigue or hyperactivity, headaches, 

stomach pain, and kidney problems.

— If you suspect you have been exposed to lead, 

even if you have no symptoms, get your blood 

lead level tested.

— Exposure to high noise levels can cause hearing 

loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), stress, high blood 

pressure, fatigue, and gastro-intestinal problems.

Employers should take the following steps to protect workers and shooters at firing ranges: 

 Provide workers and shooters with training and information about hazards:

— Inform pregnant workers and shooters about 

possible risks to the fetus.

— Ensure that workers are aware of symptoms that 

may indicate a health problem.

— Tell workers about participating in medical surveillance programs and getting blood lead levels 

tested, even if they don’t show symptoms.

 Establish effective engineering and administrative 

controls:

— Install an effective supply air and exhaust ventilation system. 

— Maintain and replace air filters regularly.

— Apply appropriate noise control measures to 

limit noise inside the range and in nearby areas.

— Keep the firing range and other workplace areas 

clean using proper cleaning procedures such as 

wet sweeping and HEPA vacuuming of surfaces.

— Provide workers with lockers and places to wash 

to avoid take-home contamination.

— Limit length of time that workers and shooters 

use the firing range: rotate assignments and provide quiet, clean, break areas.

 Provide workers with protective equipment: 

— Provide hearing protection devices such as earplugs and earmuffs.

— Provide skin protection, eye protection, and 

NIOSH-approved respirators for workers who 

clean lead-contaminated areas.

— Provide floor mats, knee pads, and shoe covers 

to limit transfer of lead to clothing.

 Review OSHA requirements for medical monitoring 

for lead (29 CFR 1910.1025(j)) and noise (29 CFR 

1910.95(d)(e)(g)(h)).

 For best medical and lead management practices, consult the Association of Occupational and Environmental 

Clinics, Kosnett et al. [2007] and NASR [2005].

Acknowledgments

This document was prepared by Chucri A. Kardous (Division of Applied Research and Technology) and Susan 

Afanuh (Education and Information Division), NIOSH.

References

CFR. Code of Federal regulations. Washington, DC: U.S. 

Government Printing Office, Office of the Federal Register.

DOJ [2004]. Law enforcement statistics. Washington, 

DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. www.ojp.usdoj.gov

Kosnett MJ, et al. [2007]. Recommendations for medical 

management of adult lead exposure. Environ Health Perspect 115(3):463–471. http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/9784/9784.html 

NASR [2005]. Lead management and OSHA compliance 

for indoor shooting ranges. Newton, CT: National Association of Shooting Ranges. www.rangeinfo.org

NIOSH [1998]. Criteria for a recommended standard: occupational exposure to noise. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 

98–126. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-126/ 

NIOSH [2009]. Preventing occupational exposures to 

lead and noise at indoor firing ranges. By Kardous C, 

et al. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and 

Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2009–136.

State of Alaska [2003]. School rifle teams exposed to 

lead at indoor firing ranges, Anchorage, AK: State of 

Alaska, Department of Health and Social Services, Epidemiology Bulletin No. 1.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

4676 Columbia Parkway

Cincinnati, OH 45226–1998

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300

For More Information

More information about firing ranges and noise and lead exposure can be found on the following NIOSH Web sites: 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ranges/ 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/ 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lead/

To obtain information about other occupational safety and 

health topics, contact NIOSH at 

Telephone: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636)

TTY: 1–888–232–6348 • E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh

For a monthly update on news at NIOSH, subscribe to 

NIOSH eNews by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews.

Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH. In addition, citations to Web sites external to NIOSH do not constitute NIOSH endorsement of 

the sponsoring organizations or their programs or products. 

Furthermore, NIOSH is not responsible for the content of 

these Web sites.

This document is in the public domain and may be 

freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all 

readers of the Workplace Solutions to make them 

available to all interested employers and workers.

As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for 

conducting research and making recommendations to 

prevent work-related illness and injuries. All Workplace 

Solutions are based on research studies that show how 

worker exposures to hazardous agents or activities can 

be significantly reduced.

Reducing Exposure to Lead and Noise at Indoor 

Firing Ranges 

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010–113

Safer • Healthier • PeopleTM January 2010