According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) there is indeed reason for concern with regard to lead, particulalrly regarding young children. However, in a nutshell, those children at greatest risk are likely to be those in an older urban dwelling, those built before 1950. This because of the use of lead in paint which was used during that timeframe. All homes built before 1978 are likely to have some lead in the paint, and therefor a threat to the health of a child, should they become exposed to lead dust during renovation or just from flaking paint.
A graph showing the increased number of children tested in California and the significanly lower levels of lead found in this larger numer or the past 10 years 1997-2006 : CDC California data
A 2008 report out of Wisconsin has this to say, "Because elevated blood lead has not been confirmed among consumers of venison, and because the measured lead content in venison varies greatly, there is an indeterminate public health hazard among those consumers", the full report is here
Among the recommendations was this "DHS recommends the use of non-lead ammunition as the simplest and most effective solution to lead poisoning, in both humans and wildlife, arising from the consumption of deer killed with lead ammunition. To address this issue, DHFS recommends the eventual transition to non-lead ammunition"
Managers at Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge say lead is an environmental toxin that can poison birds and other animals that eat carcasses shot with bullets that contain it, and are asking hunters to use non lead ammunition see article here
As can be seen from the Wisconsin data, California is not the only State moving towards the use of non-lead based ammunition for hunting. At present California DFG has restricted lead based ammunition for big game hunting only in the condor preservation area, see map here.
Obviously, at this time ammunition prices for non-lead based bullets is more expensive than the traditional lead based, however as demand increases, so will the supply and consequentially prices will reduce, but for the immediate future we will have to contend with more costly ammunition.
A list of manufacturers of non lead ammunition can be found here. And the bullets available here
Experts comments on Barnes bullets can be found here
So, while there is no conclusive data to indicate that humans eating venison shot with lead bullets are at any greater risk of increased lead levels in their bloodstream, it seems that we are heading down the path of reducing any and all forms of lead exposure in accordance with the CDC goals by 2010.
Comments
This is a no-brainer, folks. We've known for more than 2,000 years that lead is toxic and lethal. We've banned it in gasoline, paint, ceramic dishes, and for waterfowl hunting.
There should be an immediate nationwide ban on the use of lead for ALL hunting and fishing. Time is short, and there's no room for debate. Just do it! And the ethical hunters (those who haven't been co-opted by the NRA) should be leading the charge.
Eric,while there may be some cause to pay closer attention, the call for a nationwide ban is nothing more than sensationalistic panic mongering. No NRA co-opting here, but just a simple look at the facts and the science.
Lead from ammunition used by hunters is a minimal risk AT BEST to human health. There's simply no evidence, whatsoever, to support your call for a ban on lead ammo.
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