A new study led by epidemiologists at Brown University found that among firearm owners, less safe storage was associated with higher blood lead levels in children.
They researchers hypothesize that the children’s blood lead content is related to lead particles carried into the home on a recently fired gun and the parent’s clothing. That sounds weak as hell to me. It’s much more likely that the children and parents are both exposed when the gun is fired. More likely, in my opinion, the whole family was exposed by going to Nascar races, that until recently still used leaded gasoline, or some other environmental exposure. I would imagine that long term lead exposure could readily be associated with unsafe gun storage.
There’s our friends from Louisiana who remodeled old houses, including stripping old paint with a belt sander - their kids tested real high, for blood lead levels.
They were measuring the lead on the household floors and infant babies’ blood. I’m guessing the mothers/infants were not at the range.
The research team analyzed data from the longitudinal HOME Study, which was developed to assess the effects of environmental toxicant exposures on various health outcomes. The study, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, enrolled over 400 pregnant women from 2003 to 2006 and is following them and their babies over time.
In the HOME Study, blood lead levels were measured at ages 12, 24 and 36 months and floor dust lead levels from first measurement, at 12 months and at 24 months. Caregivers reported firearm ownership, number of firearms and storage practices during pregnancy.
The team’s analysis found that in homes where firearms were not stored or locked, there was 29% to 84% higher dust lead from first measurement through when the child was 24 months of age, and children had approximately 20% higher blood lead levels at ages 12 to 36 months.
Same research team already found that gun ownership correlates to higher household levels in 44 states.
No there are multiple parties at play. The infants being exposed to lead are not the ones failing to store the guns correctly.
They researchers hypothesize that the children’s blood lead content is related to lead particles carried into the home on a recently fired gun and the parent’s clothing. That sounds weak as hell to me. It’s much more likely that the children and parents are both exposed when the gun is fired. More likely, in my opinion, the whole family was exposed by going to Nascar races, that until recently still used leaded gasoline, or some other environmental exposure. I would imagine that long term lead exposure could readily be associated with unsafe gun storage.
There’s our friends from Louisiana who remodeled old houses, including stripping old paint with a belt sander - their kids tested real high, for blood lead levels.
They were measuring the lead on the household floors and infant babies’ blood. I’m guessing the mothers/infants were not at the range.
Same research team already found that gun ownership correlates to higher household levels in 44 states.
https://www.brown.edu/news/2024-03-01/firearms-lead