Thousands of tons of toxic lead are introduced into the environment each year by hunting, fishing, and sport shooting activities. The heavy metal lead can harm and kill wildlife. A study was published in the American Fisheries Society Journal that summarizes the hazards presented to wildlife by lead entitled Management Concerns about Known and Potential Impacts of Lead Use in Shooting and in Fishing Activities.
Lead (Pb)
Lead is a soft metal, historically long used for many purposes by society. The adverse effects of lead have been well known to public health authorities and its use has been greatly curtailed worldwide. Lead is still used in lead shot and fishing weights that are lost in the field during hunting and fishing activities. Lead shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting since 1991. Lead does not readily break down in the environment, except under certain conditions where it can dissolve into groundwater.
Lead Ingestion
Lead enters wildlife through the food chain in a number of ways. Lead shot and bullet fragments can be directly ingested by birds and small mammals near shooting ranges or areas that have heavy upland bird hunting use. Scavengers like vultures and eagles pick up lead through consumption of animals that have ingested lead. Fish and aquatic wildlife are exposed to lead fishing sinkers that are lost during use. Some 4,382 tons of lead sinkers are sold in the United States each year. Estimates are that shooting ranges use more than 80,000 tons of lead shot and bullets annually.
In announcing this study published in American Fisheries Society Journal, co-author Dr. Barnett Rattner says, "Science is replete with evidence that ingestion of spent ammunition and fishing tackle can kill birds. The magnitude of poisoning in some species such as waterfowl, eagles, California condors, swans and loons, is daunting. For this reason, on July 1, 2008, the state of California put restrictions on the use of lead ammunition in parts of the range of the endangered California condor because the element poses such a threat to this endangered species."
Recommendations for Use of Lead in Outdoor Activities
The authors of the lead use study make several recommendations to the American Fisheries Society (AFS) to reduce the impacts of the metal in fishing pursuits:
- The AFS should work with natural resource agencies to encourage anglers to consider the use of non-toxic alternatives to lead
- A lead-free education and outreach program should be developed and made available to natural resource management organizations, equipment manufacturers, and gear retailers
- A partnership with AFS and fisheries management agencies should be developed to encourage exchange of lead tackle for non-toxic alternatives
- Working with other organizations, encourage tackle manufacturers to use non-toxic materials to construct small sized fishing sinkers
- Legislation should be encouraged that leads to a phased-in transition on the use of lead in fishing gear
- AFS could consider supporting local bans on lead fishing sinkers in areas that experience high mortally rates of waterfowl due to lead poisoning
Additional information on the subject of lead impacts to wildlife is being prepared by The Wildlife Society. Researchers understand that more study is needed on the effects of lead in retiles and aquatic birds.
Alan Sorum - Alan Sorum is the Maritime Operations Project Manager for the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC). Alan is ...
