BackgroundLead is highly toxic to animals. Humans eating game killed using lead ammunition generally avoid swallowing shot or bullets and dietary lead exposure from this source has been considered low. Recent evidence illustrates that lead bullets fragment on impact, leaving small lead particles widely distributed in game tissues. Our paper asks whether lead gunshot pellets also fragment upon impact, and whether lead derived from spent gunshot and bullets in the tissues of game animals could pose a threat to human health.Methodology/Principal FindingsWild-shot gamebirds (6 species) obtained in the UK were X-rayed to determine the number of shot and shot fragments present, and cooked using typical methods. Shot were then removed to simulate realistic practice before consumption, and lead concentrations determined. Data from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate Statutory Surveillance Programme documenting lead levels in raw tissues of wild gamebirds and deer, without shot being removed, are also presented. Gamebirds containing ≥5 shot had high tissue lead concentrations, but some with fewer or no shot also had high lead concentrations, confirming X-ray results indicating that small lead fragments remain in the flesh of birds even when the shot exits the body. A high proportion of samples from both surveys had lead concentrations exceeding the European Union Maximum Level of 100 ppb w.w. (0.1 mg kg−1 w.w.) for meat from bovine animals, sheep, pigs and poultry (no level is set for game meat), some by several orders of magnitude. High, but feasible, levels of consumption of some species could result in the current FAO/WHO Provisional Weekly Tolerable Intake of lead being exceeded.Conclusions/SignificanceThe potential health hazard from lead ingested in the meat of game animals may be larger than previous risk assessments indicated, especially for vulnerable groups, such as children, and those consuming large amounts of game.

Public health practice should monitor and target inequalities in functional performance, as well as risk of disease and death. Effective strategies will need to affect the social determinants of health in early life to influence inequalities into old age.

PurposeThis study aimed to explore factors contributing to non-participation in a workplace physical activity intervention in a large UK call centre. Methodology16 inactive individuals (9 male/7 female), aged 27 ± 9 years, who had not taken part in the intervention were interviewed to explore their perceptions of physical activity, the intervention and factors which contributed to their non-participation. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. FindingsSix superordinate themes were identified: Self-efficacy for exercise; attitudes towards PA; lack of time and energy; facilities and the physical environment; response to the physical activity programme and physical activity culture. Barriers occurred at multiple levels of influence, and support the use of ecological or multilevel models to help guide future programme design/delivery. LimitationsThe 16 participants were not selected to be representative of the workplace gender or structure. Future intentions relating to physical activity participation were not considered and participants may have withheld negative opinions about the workplace or intervention despite use of an external researcher. Practical implicationsIn this group of employees education about the importance of physical activity for young adults and providing opportunities to gain social benefits from physical activity would increase perceived benefits and reduce perceived costs of physical activity.Workplace cultural norms with respect to physical activity must also be addressed to create a shift in physical activity participation. OriginalityEmployees' reasons for non-participation in workplace interventions remain poorly understood and infrequently studied. This study considers a relatively under-studied population of employed young adults, providing practical recommendations for future interventions. However, the direct impact of interventions on health inequalities within the workplace, e.g. extent of engagement with those most in need, is rarely discussed.There has been some suggestion that programmes are mostly attended by individuals who are already exercising or are highly motivated to do so (Marshall, 2004).Participation levels in workplace health promotion programmes vary widely; uptake rates of between 10-64% with a median participation rate of 33% have been reported (Robroek et al., 2009). Therefore the characteristics and barriers to participation in workplace PA programmes are of crucial interest if health benefits are to be extended throughout the workforce and the interaction between health behaviours and health inequalities is to be addressed in this setting. The few studies that consider engagement in workplace PA interventions suggest that non-participation is more common amongst younger, less educated or BME groups and that perceived barriers 4 are higher, and perceived benefits lower, amongst non-participants (Bull et al., 2003, Chinn et al., 2006, Lakerveld et al., 2008, but research into this area is rare.Known barriers to PA across a range of settings in...