Higher air lead levels (time-weighted average 660, range 112–2238 g/m³) were measured in firing ranges where powder charges were employed than in ranges where air guns were used (4.6, range 1.8–7.2 g/m³); levels in the latter were in turn higher than those in ranges used for archery (0.11, range 0.10–0.13 g/m³) Twenty-two marksmen who used powder charges had significantly increased blood lead levels during the indoor shooting season (before: median 106, range 32–176 g/l; after: 138; range 69–288 g/l; P = 0.0001), while 21 subjects who mainly used air guns displayed no significant increase (before: median 91, range 47–179 g/l; after: 84; range 20–222 g/l). Thirteen archers had significantly lower levels than the pistol shooters before the season (P = 0.006), and showed a significant decrease during the season (before: median 61, range 27–92 g/l; after: 56; range 31–87 g/l; P = 0.04). At the end of the indoor season, there was a significant association between weekly pistol shooting time and blood lead levels.