Implications for wildlife and humans of dietary exposure to lead from fragments of lead rifle bullets in deer shot in the UK.

摘要: Lead poisoning caused by ingested spent lead shotgun pellets has long been known to be a cause of unnecessary mortality in waterfowl and led legislation limiting its use many countries. Recent evidence shown that the problem extends terrestrial ecosystems fragmented rifle bullets eaten scavengers as well pellets. Dietary exposure human consumers from ammunition game meat also poses potential risks health. To assess degree fragmentation used kill wild deer, twelve deer were shot thorax using copper-jacketed lead-cored bullets, part planned management operations. The thoracic region eviscerated carcasses abdominal viscera each X-rayed. An average 356 metal fragments was visible on radiographs carcass 180 viscera. weight estimated reference an X-rayed scale weight. total fragments, likely mostly lead, 1.2 g for 0.2 entire 17% bullet. Most small size, with those being smaller than carcass. Metal sufficiently at least 80% metallic bullet-derived would expected scavenging birds, such buzzards eagles, which feed them.