Lead exposure risk drops at indoor shooting range

The Vancouver Rifle and Pistol Club has made significant improvements to adequately address concerns about lead exposure at the indoor shooting range, according to Clark County Public Health.

Last April, the county health department advised parents to not let children go to the Orchards-area club until the club improved its ventilation and cleaning. Eight young members had registered lead levels in their blood above 10 micrograms per deciliter; anything above 5 micrograms per deciliter is considered elevated and cases involving levels of 10 and above must be reported to the health department.

In a Feb. 4 letter to board members, public health officer Dr. Alan Melnick said the club had taken corrective actions.

The club was inspected Jan. 26.

“It was evident that you have made significant positive changes in both cleaning and environmental engineering that significantly reduce the exposure to lead dust through ingestion and inhalation. We appreciate the thoroughness of your follow through.”

Melnick said the recommendation that pregnant members and members younger than 18 not participate in shooting has been rescinded.

A recommendation that children whose lead levels remain elevated should refrain from shooting until their lead levels drop below 5 micrograms per deciliter remains in place, he wrote.

Melnick wrote that all of the furniture, carpets and canvas mats that harbored lead dust were cleaned and gun safes were relocated to minimize the chance lead dust would be brought into the clubhouse area.

The club’s ventilation system was sufficiently improved, he wrote.

Club member Amanda Ueltschi said Wednesday that members learned a lot by going through the process with the health department.

“Obviously we want safety for everybody,” said Ueltschi, who serves as secretary for Clark County Competitive Shooters.

She said her 13-year-old son, Kyle, has been shooting at the club for two years. His blood has been tested and has never showed an elevated level of lead, she said.

She said the club experienced a drop-off in activity since the publicity of the lead exposure.

“It would be nice to get the word back out there” that the health department has signed off on the improvements, she said.

In addition to interior fixes, Melnick wrote in his letter the club will work with a private company to do a site cleanup to address lead contamination in the soil.

Long-term exposure to lead can cause in adults hypertension, kidney damage and neurocognitive issues such as memory loss, decreased verbal ability and slower mental processing speed, Melnick said last year when he made the recommendations.

He said children, whose brains are still developing, are at even higher risk. The lead stays in the body for years, and elevated levels can lead to reduced IQ, slow learning or behavioral issues.

Stephanie Rice: 360-735-4508 or stephanie.rice@columbian.com.