Bullet-derived lead in tissues of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Dobrowolska, Anna; Melosik, M

doi:10.1007/s10344-007-0134-y

Cited by 70 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Against this background, these four samples were therefore excluded from the regression analysis while assessing the use of trace element concentrations in antlers as an index of concentration in muscle tissue. It has been shown that red deer muscle can be contaminated with Pb in the 30-cm neighboring area of the bullet pathway (Dobrowolska and Melosik 2008). In human, a diet including venison with high Pb concentration can result up to 2.5 times higher Pb exposure to the consumer, when we compare it to the exposure of human living on normal diet (EFSA 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can red deer antlers be used as an indicator of environmental and edible tissues’ trace element contamination?

Giżejewska

Szkoda

Nawrocka

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Venison is an attractive product for consumers concerned with healthy lifestyle; however, it can contain high levels of toxic elements, and therefore, it is a possible source of hazardous contaminants in human diet. Antlers are suitable bioindicators of environmental metal contamination, and herein, we assessed the ability of trace element levels in antlers to indicate levels in edible soft tissues. We determined the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in the liver, kidney, muscle, and antlers of 14 free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) from northeastern Poland using atomic absorption spectrometry. We found the highest concentrations of Pb (0.321 ± 0.165 mg/kg), As (0.045 ± 0.074 mg/kg), Zn (105.31 ± 16.33 mg/kg), and Fe (220.92 ± 117.18 mg/kg) in antlers; of Cd (4.974 ± 1.90 mg/kg) and Hg (0.048 ± 0.102 mg/kg) in kidney; and of Cu (7.29 ± 7.02 mg/kg) in the liver. A positive relationship between concentrations in antlers and muscle was found only for Cu (p = 0.001), and it therefore appears that red deer antlers cannot be used as an index for element concentrations in soft tissues. While our results confirm that the Mazury region is little polluted, consumption of red deer offal from this area should be limited according to extant legal limits set for livestock consumption.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11356-017-8798-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can red deer antlers be used as an indicator of environmental and edible tissues’ trace element contamination?

Giżejewska

Szkoda

Nawrocka

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Lead fragments in gut piles from these and other game animals present risks to scavengers (Krone 2011). The ingestion of lead fragments from rifle-killed meat by humans is the latest component of this growing awareness of serious lead exposure (Dobrowolska and Melosik 2008;Kosnett 2009;Iqbal et al 2009;Knott et al 2010;Pain et al 2010), a risk that can be prevented by use of lead-free rifle ammunition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead-Free Hunting Rifle Ammunition: Product Availability, Price, Effectiveness, and Role in Global Wildlife Conservation

Thomas

2013

AMBIO

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Proposals to end the use of lead hunting ammunition because of the established risks of lead exposure to wildlife and humans are impeded by concerns about the availability, price, and effectiveness of substitutes. The product availability and retail prices of different calibers of lead-free bullets and center-fire rifle ammunition were assessed for ammunition sold in the USA and Europe. Lead-free bullets are made in 35 calibers and 51 rifle cartridge designations. Thirty-seven companies distribute internationally ammunition made with lead-free bullets. There is no major difference in the retail price of equivalent lead-free and lead-core ammunition for most popular calibers. Lead-free ammunition has set bench-mark standards for accuracy, lethality, and safety. Given the demonstrated wide product availability, comparable prices, and the effectiveness of high-quality lead-free ammunition, it is possible to phase out the use of lead hunting ammunition world-wide, based on progressive policy and enforceable legislation.

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“…Studies have linked elevated blood lead concentrations of subsistence hunters in northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and elsewhere to consumption of shotgun-killed birds [18-25; see 26,27]. The hypothesis that rifle bullet fragments are an additional source of human lead exposure is suggested by radiographic studies of deer killed with standard lead-based bullets, which show hundreds of small metal fragments widely dispersed around wound channels [28][29][30]. The possibility of inadvertent lead contamination in prepared meat consumed by hunters and their families is noteworthy, considering the millions of people who hunt big game in the U.S. [31] and the thousands of deer annually donated to food pantries for the poor [32,33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead Bullet Fragments in Venison from Rifle-killed Deer: Potential for Human Dietary Exposure

Hunt¹

2009

Ingestion of Lead From Spent Ammunition: Implications for Wildlife and Humans

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Human consumers of wildlife killed with lead ammunition may be exposed to health risks associated with lead ingestion. This hypothesis is based on published studies showing elevated blood lead concentrations in subsistence hunter populations, retention of ammunition residues in the tissues of hunter-killed animals, and systemic, cognitive, and behavioral disorders associated with human lead body burdens once considered safe. Our objective was to determine the incidence and bioavailability of lead bullet fragments in hunter-killed venison, a widely-eaten food among hunters and their families. We radiographed 30 eviscerated carcasses of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) shot by hunters with standard lead-core, copper-jacketed bullets under normal hunting conditions. All carcasses showed metal fragments (geometric mean = 136 fragments, range = 15-409) and widespread fragment dispersion. We took each carcass to a separate meat processor and fluoroscopically scanned the resulting meat packages; fluoroscopy revealed metal fragments in the ground meat packages of 24 (80%) of the 30 deer; 32% of 234 ground meat packages contained at least one fragment. Fragments were identified as lead by ICP in 93% of 27 samples. Isotope ratios of lead in meat matched the ratios of bullets, and differed from background lead in bone. We fed fragment-containing venison to four pigs to test bioavailability; four controls received venison without fragments from the same deer. Mean blood lead concentrations in pigs peaked at 2.29 mg/dL (maximum 3.8 mg/dL) 2 days following ingestion of fragment-containing venison, significantly higher than the 0.63 mg/dL averaged by controls. We conclude that people risk exposure to bioavailable lead from bullet fragments when they eat venison from deer killed with standard lead-based rifle bullets and processed under normal procedures. At risk in the U.S. are some ten million hunters, their families, and low-income beneficiaries of venison donations.

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Bullet-derived lead in tissues of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Cited by 70 publications

References 16 publications

Can red deer antlers be used as an indicator of environmental and edible tissues’ trace element contamination?

Can red deer antlers be used as an indicator of environmental and edible tissues’ trace element contamination?

Lead-Free Hunting Rifle Ammunition: Product Availability, Price, Effectiveness, and Role in Global Wildlife Conservation

Lead Bullet Fragments in Venison from Rifle-killed Deer: Potential for Human Dietary Exposure

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