Just wondering whether there is any realistic health risk in using lead wire/flat lead when tying flies. I usually wash my hand with soap after using the stuff but I am always a little bit worried about the risk of lead poisoning. Is there actually any health risk or am I just being a hypochondriac?!

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Fundamentally fishing is a philosophy. A philosophy of earth, and growth, and quiet places. In it there is a rule of life, a recognition of permanences. It makes you notice the little things of nature, wherever you may be. ~Bernard Venables

Only if you eat it

Don't lick your fingers Seriously, as you wash afterwards, I would think not.

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Eddie
"We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation."
Voltaire

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Tight Lines. :)

Elemental lead is not easily absorbed into the body, it's not something I would personally worry too much about. Just wash your hands after handling it, if you are concerned.

Hi, I wouldn't worry to much about lead, the varnish we use probably has more health risks than lead, of course if your using lead on a daily basis for years it may be a different story.

The best way to find out if you have to much lead in your system, is as follows;

Now we all know lead is heavy, so logic dictates that any lead in your system will fall to the lowest point. Simple test is to take a piece of plain white paper, place it on the floor, remove your shoes & socks. Using your big toe draw a circle on the paper, the darkness of the circle will indicate how much lead you have in your system. My feet are measured at 2hb.

Also if you find your feet feel heavy, that's a sure sign of lead in your system.

Hope this helps

Sean

probably better to worry about some of the dyes and pesticides in materials

all the best Nick

Nick - From the advice I've found (see later) the main routes to consider are by ingestion (i.e. licking fingers or eating) and inhalation (usually of dust).

For further advice if you're concerned, see here http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg305.pdf and here Health & Safety | The Lead Sheet Association.

Please bear in mind that the guidance is for working with sheet lead on a commercial basis. If you're tying relatively small quantities of flies, that will definitely help as a 'control measure'. Basic hygiene, which it sounds like you're doing anyway, should be followed. Basically, direct skin contact isn't a problem; swallowing it can be, as can breathing it in.

Enjoy your tying.

I tried a well know make of Tungsten wire fairly recently & found it was a total waste of time & money. It was like trying to work with piano wire.

We researched various alternatives & the only one that was as heavy for a given wire gauge was 18/22ct. gold. However the price of it currently is way beyond what anybody will want to pay.

There are several alloys we tried, but they're nowhere near as heavy. There is a tungsten based wire-like product, but it's just powder in fine rubber & not that good either.

Many will doubt the above post but it can clearly be proved. While the heavy elements sink towards our feet the lighter ones rise upwards. For proof look at the number of airheads posting on here



I rest my case. I can understand someone licking their fingers but not actually eating them