Lead poisoning in shooting-range workers in Gauteng Province, South Africa: Two case studies.

BACKGROUND: Lead exposure constitutes a major public health concern globally. Relative to developed nations, lead exposure is understudied and poorly addressed in Africa, and there is a dearth of information available to inform lead poisoning prevention strategies, even in high-risk groups such as workers in shooting ranges who are potentially exposed to lead daily.

METHODS: Two workers at a private shooting range in Gauteng, South Africa (SA), had blood lead levels and exposure histories taken.

RESULTS: Workers had highly elevated blood lead levels and clinical symptoms associated with elevated blood lead levels.

CONCLUSION: Workers in private SA shooting ranges are vulnerable to lead exposure and poisoning, and scaled-up action is required to protect them and their families, as well as shooting-range users, from lead and the related health risks.