There sure is plenty empirical evidence to support your theory

It's slowly becoming more known. The indoor ranges in my area have started installing ventilation systems, banning pregnant women from entry, providing lead-removing soap in the bathrooms, encouraging people to use it, and posting signs about it in the bathrooms.

But still, many people either don't know or, even worse, know and don't care because "I ain't no sissy" or whatever.

Most effects of lead exposure are reversible with time though.

I think an even bigger problem that even more people don't think about is the fact that leaded gasoline is still used in airplane fuel (avgas). If you fly for a hobby or live under a flight path, you very likely have more lead in your blood than the most avid of shooters.

Lead is in primers too. Not just in the non jacketed bullet.

A 50ae from a desert eagle doesn't get anywhere close to that of a 50bmg. It's about 15% of the energy, if even, which is about the same as typical infantry rifles.

Caliber is probably is among the worst metrics for determining energy honestly

The 1911 uses .45 and .45 is a subsonic ammunition, which means its muzzle velocity is below the speed to break the sound barrier, and doesn't produce a supersonic crack. The delisle carbine was a bolt action integrally suppressed rifle made from the Lee Enfield, re-chambered for .45 from .303 due to its subsonic nature and is known to be one of the quietest firearms to exist, and the round doesn't produce a loud crack.

Where 9mm isn't subsonic, it has a higher muzzle velocity and therefore would generate more atmospheric pressure, and a supersonic crack. This is why the world famous MP5SD, known for its total silence, was revolutionary. people say the only thing you hear is the bolt cycling. It has a perforated barrel that leaks enough of the gases out of the barrel into the suppressor. Infact, it leaks enough to actually prevent the 9mm from achieving supersonic speeds. They designed it this way so it doesn't have to use ammunition that is specifically filled to be subsonic, or to use a round that is inherently subsonic like .45.

So that is two examples of gun design history around trying to be quiet with ammunition, one designed around the ammo, and one around the gun.

4 psi is based on the army report for popping ear drums, more specifically for impact events like gun shots. Note, your ears can handle 4 psi if it's a slow ramp up so they can acclimate like diving in water.

I agree that it does feel alarmist, but to be fair, the article mentioned multiple times that the research isn't established just yet. In the end it sort of reminds me of the radiation doses from x-rays and CT scans. You have to weigh the potential risks with the potential benefits when deciding to practice with a firearm.

In the range I've always worn double, though that only provides incremental increase in protection.

With double, I barely notice any typical round - it really is just background noise, though you can feel the pressure in your chest.

But something like a DE? Holy hell that was something else. WOOMP! I think you really feel even that more than you hear it.

This article seems like a tempest in a teapot.

The article specifically mentioned indoor ranges so you’re probably good

Also a 50 yard home range sounds so nice

How many acres do you need to have a range like that? I’m shopping for cheap land

People like me?

And all the other lgbt+ and poc I shoot with?

I mean, sure a couple aren't the brightest crayons in the box, but that's a pretty wide blanket statement

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/11/nx-s1-5611025/why-more-liberals-are-buying-guns

These kind of people?