How Dangerous Are Lead Weights? 2024
Alex21 reply :
How dangerous are they. I'm constantly handeling them and never really think about it,
SirSnookalot reply :
Handling sinkers or jig heads for a few moments at a time while rigging isn't the same as a baby ingesting lead based paint off a wall. Or a worker in a lead smelting plant where both physical handling and the constant fumes (not everything goes up the flu) 8 solid hours a day, is probably at risk.
Not debating the lead ban issue in some states, I don't believe there is much risk for a fisherman.
rockchalk06 reply :
Most if not all of the lead exposure that's toxic is from breathing in fumes when smelting
If your truely worried about it, take some rubber gloves and a mask. Open the baggie of weights. Spread them on some wax paper and hammer them with some black krylon spray paint. Coat a few times and that should suffice.
Sam reply :
If you eat them; hit someone in the head with one; or are pregnant you may have a problem.
Especially the pregnant part!!!!
Goose52 reply :
As someone that used to have 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 lead poisoning. 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. There is indeed the potential to transfer lead into your system while handling the solid form. The effects are minimal, but can be cumulative, depending on frequency of exposure. Handle enough lead, enough times, and you run the risk of gradually increasing your blood lead level.
slonezp reply :
I'm in trouble. Been closing splitshots with my teeth for 40 years.
Scorcher214 reply :
Only dangerous if you live in California.
MT2 reply :
They will put your eye out 
have a buddy as a kid got a new combo for his b-day tied on a egg sinker and went to the back yard, stuck it in the grass....yank yank yank....POW....right in the eye. Luckly he didnt loose the eye but that eye is lazy, if you was to meet him the 2 things you'd notice off the bat is he's got unique sense of humor and what happened to his eye.
As far as the lead poisoning goes, wouldnt worry bought it unless your pouring 8 hours a day worth of sinkers jigs and others.
Kevinator1 reply :
I take 2 half ounce weights each morning with my multivitamin to get my daily allowance and I'm just fine. 
Alex21 reply :
I'm not worried about. You just know how everybody is today. All you hear is everythings dangerous its crazy.
smalljaw67 reply :
I've been pouring lead for over 15 years, and I never got lead poisoning. While having good ventilation helps lead doesn't vaporize or become airbourne until it hits 900+ degrees which is far hotter than what we do at home which is about 700 degrees. After handling lead it is best to wash your hands and do not smoke, or eat until you washed your hands. I get more lead exposure prepping jigs and stuff because of filing off sprues and flashing but a quick wash with soap and water and all is good. Handling finished lead weights will require a lot of handling for a long period of time before it will affect you.
MT2 reply :
On 8/4/2012 at 11:06 PM, Alex21 said:I'm not worried about. You just know how everybody is today. All you hear is everythings dangerous its crazy.
No joke, how many of us grew up eating hotdogs several times a week for lunch. Cut up hotdogs I bet is alot of peoples first memory of food. I also bet everyone of us has ate a uncooked one straight out of the fridge. Now days they say hotdogs is one of the most dangerous and unhealthy foods for kids, and to boot uncooked ones are said to cos all sorts of health issues.
River Rat316 reply :
We pour alot, and like goose said after handling bare lead wash your hands and you will be fine. The true danger for lead poisoning for humans is the fumes and ingestion, I take it you are not melting it so wash your hands if you are handling it more than just tieng a texas rig or something.
Lead bans are not for our safety its for the birds, they are worried about birds ingesting it with gravel from the bottom of the lake.... funny thing is many bird populations are higher now than ever, including the all precious loon
flyeaglesfly5186 reply :
On 8/4/2012 at 8:03 PM, slonezp said:I'm in trouble. Been closing splitshots with my teeth for 40 years.
Not as many years but ditto. I close them and open them with my teeth all the time never had an issue.
Bair reply :
I don't worry about it. I'm already screwed up from being raised in a NASCAR shop breathing all those racing fuel fumes and other assorted hazards. Some lead weights that I touched for 3 seconds is not going to hurt me anymore.
WRB reply :
They can be almost as dangerous as tungston weights when they hit you in the eye trying to get it out of a snag!
The first lead ban on fishing tackle was due to a study with Loons. The hunting ban on lead pellets or bullets followed from a study on water fowl and condors. Lot of debate with the science in these studies. The bottom line is don't eat lead weights or get in the way of incoming high velocity metal objects, it is dangerous.
Tom
gonefishing1965 reply :
Well I guess If it was going to kill me I would be dead already. I been biting on lead to open and close it for years. I think my dad thought me this trick when I was 5 years old. and that has been a long time now.
iceintheveins reply :
Just don't put them in your mouth, and wash your hands after handling them a bunch. They really aren't that dangerous and lead bans are baseless.
SirSnookalot reply :
Biting on a lead split shot is not the same as little children ingesting lead based paint off a pealing wall. Kids will put anything in their mouths and their systems are much more delicate.
JerDanson reply :
I don’t fish in the winter time, that’s my break from all the lead poisoning I’m getting in my head. I keep my fishing stuff in the house though which I think is worse, I go over to the gun aisle and I can smell all the lead from the endless racks of BULLETS and ammo. I did an experiment this year, I think the bullets cause more damage when not in use, same thing with the fishing gear. It says right on the pack of bullets, “keep in a an airy place”. Why doesn’t it say that on my fishing gear? They’re both made out of lead, they’re both considered a projectile, and they both give off those annoying ear piercing fumes. I need a break from fishing, might take a year off. Might not even walk into a Cabelas or Scheels again if this doesn’t get better. Maybe if I take a year off I’ll be able to wash all that crap off and out of my head.
I don’t even like using my cell phone either, might take a long break from that. Everything has lead in it, our cars, our phones, even our watches. I have a watch with black paint on it that I keep around to remind me to take a break from anything that has a battery or plugs into the wall. I don’t even like turning on the TV. I like car radios though, the static does something to my head. Don’t know if it’s good or bad but I don’t have to stare at an ugly picture.
Vilas15 reply :
An interesting first post on a 5 year old thread...
WCWV reply :
I've been casting lead bullets for many years and have my lead level checked on my yearly check up and everything has been normal.
I use common sense while doing it.
Russ E reply :
like most here have already mentioned children are much more susceptible to lead poisoning than adults. that is usually from ingesting it. I have hunted and fished with lead my whole life and I honestly don't personally know anyone who has had lead poisoning.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
Since someone pull this thread out from the death. As of now They try to ban every fishing equipment with lead according to new bill AB-2787 2018. Am I glad to live in CA, time to stock all weighted hook.
eyedabassman reply :
Just wash your hands, and don’t put them in your mouth!
Crestliner2008 reply :
Having grown up in the 40's & 50's in a 3rd. floor apartment flat, I guess I've been exposed to lead paint, lead fishing lures and jigs most of my life. Spent time on board a Destroyer back in the 60's, where we chipped lead paint from the '02' level every time we pulled into port. Got out of the service, got married and raised 4 kids. I'm still kicking and my kids all have their Master's Degrees. I'm pretty sure lead payed no part in my successes or failures.
I still mold my own jigs and use lead. I guess I'm doomed. But then again, I've got no regrets.
The Bassman reply :
When I was a kid our teacher would let us play with Mercury on a tabletop in science class. Now that's dangerous. Times have changed.
Cak920 reply :
Growing up my dad always bit lead split shots to crimp them to his line. There is almost 0 harm in handling them. It consistent exposure (primarily ingestion and especially for children) that causes problems. Back in the really old days they actually made cups and plates out of lead which caused problems.
BassWhole! reply :
On 3/4/2018 at 8:01 AM, Crestliner2008 said:Spent time on board a Destroyer back in the 60's, where we chipped lead paint from the '02' level every time we pulled into port.
Adams class? Thank you for your service. Chipped and painted on 2 Spruance Class destroyers myself.
Boomstick reply :
Same deal with Tide pods, don't eat them.
rboat reply :
I used to bite on the large lead sinkers when throwing a cast net to catch shiners. It works very well. I think the small bit of lake water that entered my mouth each cast was far worse than biting loosely on the lead.
Glenn reply :
I made a video showing how to insert a lead jighead into a tube. I usually use Megastrike to coat the head first, which makes it easier to slide it into the tube. But as I was recording the video, I could just "hear" the complaints: people accusing me of hawking products, or people whining about having to buy something to do the task, etc.
So in a split-decision, I showed how you can just wet the jighead with your mouth instead.
Boy...the comments that followed! You'd think I'd be dead by now! LOL!!
Crestliner2008 reply :
On 3/5/2018 at 9:05 AM, reason said:Adams class? Thank you for your service. Chipped and painted on 2 Spruance Class destroyers myself.
I spent 2 WesPac cruises aboard the USS Shelton, DD-790 back in the late '60's. Shellback too - the hard way! 
BTW, on this "dangerous" lead epidemic we are now experiencing all of a sudden, I remember polishing silver dollars with mercury.....with our fingers! Got them beautiful coins a glowin', that's for sure.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
I played with Hg when I was around 10yo this is my selfie I just took
RPreeb reply :
On 3/6/2018 at 8:22 AM, Crestliner2008 said:I spent 2 WesPac cruises aboard the USS Shelton, DD-790 back in the late '60's. Shellback too - the hard way!
BTW, on this "dangerous" lead epidemic we are now experiencing all of a sudden, I remember polishing silver dollars with mercury.....with our fingers! Got them beautiful coins a glowin', that's for sure.
You were richer than I was... I just did that with quarters. Fortunately not very often, because mercury is even more toxic than lead, or at least because it's liquid, it's easier to ingest.
My sister nearly died from mercury poisoning when she was an less than a year old because of a mixture recommended by the pediatrician for washing diapers to prevent diaper rash. She spent a couple of months in the hospital, and had a couple of kidney surgeries.
BrackishBassin reply :
Lead, like many other heavy metal contaminants, tends to cause problems over time as it is accumulated in the body. Just like any other heavy metal, your body can flush it out given time. The danger comes from it accumulating too quickly for your body to get rid of it. It’s especially dangerous to developing bodies that don’t have the capacity to deal with it (children). I’m not crazy about avoiding lead, but I also don’t put it in my mouth and wash my hands after handling it. In my mind, it’s easy to avoid ingesting it. So, why not just avoid it? Do teeth work for crimping down weights? Sure do, but a pair of pliers work just as well, and I always have them with me when fishing. The ‘we did it and we’re fine’ thing just doesn’t work for me. People didn’t wear seatbelts ‘back in the day’. Guess what, people died. Be smart and live longer.
RPreeb reply :
On 3/6/2018 at 9:49 AM, BrackishBassin said:Lead, like many other heavy metal contaminants, tends to cause problems over time as it is accumulated in the body. Just like any other heavy metal, your body can flush it out given time. The danger comes from it accumulating too quickly for your body to get rid of it. It’s especially dangerous to developing bodies that don’t have the capacity to deal with it (children). I’m not crazy about avoiding lead, but I also don’t put it in my mouth and wash my hands after handling it. In my mind, it’s easy to avoid ingesting it. So, why not just avoid it? Do teeth work for crimping down weights? Sure do, but a pair of pliers work just as well, and I always have them with me when fishing. The ‘we did it and we’re fine’ thing just doesn’t work for me. People didn’t wear seatbelts ‘back in the day’. Guess what, people died. Be smart and live longer.
When we were kids we just bit down on split shots to close them, but then I didn't carry pliers in my tackle box. I could barely afford to put any tackle in it, let alone any frivolous luxuries. Now I always have pliers - 2 pairs in fact, needle nose and split ring. It's only logical to use them.
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