2007-03-06 04:08:10 · 3 answers · asked by bonberl 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
Modern smokeless gun powder contains high levels of nitrate compounds. Upon firing a gun, the chemicals react violently and may leave GSR (gun shot residue) on surfaces such clothes or skin tissue. GSR contains soot, metallic elements such as antimony and lead, and barium. The soot usually contain graphite dust, which keeps the gun powder from coagulating in its case. It is safe to assume that the nitrate levels are harmless. A portion of spinach contains much more nitrates than that. Lead of course, is toxic but you'd have to ingest a lot more than just a few specks of it, to get sick. And antimony is also used by dentist to fill your cavities.
An pretty common army trick involves soldiers swallowing the gun powder of a single cartridge in order to obtain a greyish and sweaty look, so they can report for sick leave and skip field excercises. I've never heard of any lingering adverse effects, although I certainly wouldn't recommend it.
So generally speaking, it's not the gun powder you have to be careful with, it's the bullet.
2007-03-09 08:05:32 · answer #1 · answered by nuclearfuel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No untoward effects,just the stippling of the gunpowder in the skin.You could try make-up if its on your face etc. Take care. SW RNP
2007-03-06 05:26:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Might be able to see it if it's close to the surface. I wouldn't worry too much, it's not toxic, or if it is, you'd have to like eat a whole pound of it. Not really dangerous.
2007-03-08 08:17:12 · answer #3 · answered by Conrad 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋