Effects of lead from ammunition on birds and other wildlife: A review and update

Pain, Deborah J.; Mateo, Rafael; Green, Rhys E.

doi:10.1007/s13280-019-01159-0

Cited by 189 publications

(186 citation statements)

References 99 publications

(115 reference statements)

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“…Because of mortality of scavenging species after ingesting lead (Pb)-contaminated quarry [14,19,30] and the poisoning of waterfowl as a result of the ingestion of Pb shot instead of natural grit and food [27,34], a general ban on Pb in game ammunition in the European Union (EU) has been recommended by the European Chemicals Agency [6]. Furthermore, many states worldwide and in particular in Europe (23 countries) already have regulated the use of lead shot [28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, many states worldwide and in particular in Europe (23 countries) already have regulated the use of lead shot [28]. For decades, the effects of lead poisoning in waterfowl, raptors, scavengers and terrestrial birds are highly documented [34]. According to comparative investigations, the oral intake of shot made of nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), tin (Sn), copper (Cu) and tungsten (W) did not lead to a higher mortality of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) compared with a control, whereas Pb-based shot did cause significantly higher mortality rates [10,12,13,24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the leaching behavior of different gunshot materials in natural spring waters

Fäth

Göttlein

2019

Environ Sci Eur

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Background: Owing to the high environmental risk of lead-based gunshot, especially as the main source of acute lead poisoning in waterfowl, restrictions on its use in European wetlands are being put into place. In order to assess potential risks of alternative gunshot pellets to aquatic systems, we validated a recently published study that compared the leaching behavior of different game shot materials in an artificial solution and their toxicological effects to Daphnia magna. We therefore investigated the altered leaching of shot materials in natural spring waters. Results: The different water conditions (geology/redox conditions) had a strong influence on the leaching behavior of the examined shot types. Spring water originating from siliceous bedrock showed the highest concentrations of nearly all leached metals under aerobic conditions. The results were similar to the former study, which used an artificial standardized medium for daphnids. Conclusions: According to the conducted leaching tests, Cu-and Zn-based as well as Zn-coated gunshot should be avoided by reason of the high risks they pose to the aquatic environment. Furthermore, the use of Pb-based and Nialloyed or-coated game shot also should be hampered owing to their impact on birds or other wildlife. Since some of these shot materials are still on the European market, an effective toxicity screening of alternative gunshot materials is necessary. By conducting standardized leaching tests, in addition to chemical compositional standards and toxicity tests regarding birds, the environmental risks of each game shot would entirely be assessed. The method presented in this study provides a further step for initial ecotoxicological risk assessment of gunshot for aquatic systems, since it additionally assesses minor components, like thin coatings, which also can have a high impact to these ecosystems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the leaching behavior of different gunshot materials in natural spring waters

Fäth

Göttlein

2019

Environ Sci Eur

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“…Despite the Pb shot ban in place for waterfowl hunting in many countries, an estimated 1,900-2,400 metric tons of Pb shot are deposited on publicly owned lands across the US each year from mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) hunting alone [7] and an estimated 18,000-21,000 tons of Pb (ca. 200 billion individual pellets) are used for hunting annually in Europe [11,16]. Deposition of Pb shot throughout the environment is not uniform, where areas hunted annually will have a greater pellet density in the environment than those less frequented by hunters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These high deposition areas can have direct impacts on soil, plants, waterfowl [4,9,19], passerine species [2,20,21] and many other birds, both game and non-game species [8,[22][23][24][25]. As such, Pb shot deposition remains a relevant, and widespread issue [7,11,26,27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioaccessibility of antimony and other trace elements from lead shot pellets in a simulated avian gizzard environment

et al. 2020

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Many studies have used grit (in the form of lead (Pb) pellets) presence in avian gizzards as an indicator of Pb shot exposure. However, due to nearly complete pellet absorption in gizzards or rapid passage of pellets, the absence of Pb shot presence in a gizzard does not confirm lack of Pb shot exposure. This study provides the basis for an additional technique to identify if elevated tissue Pb concentration is due to Pb shot exposure. Bioaccessibility of Pb and trace elements (Sb, As, and Sn) present in Pb shot were quantified to determine if any of these elements would be useful as a secondary marker of Pb shot exposure. An avian physiologically based extraction test (PBET) was used to determine pellet dissolution rate and bioaccessible concentrations of Pb, Sb, As, and Sn in a simulated gizzard environment. Of the three trace elements, only Sb concentrations (44-302 μg/mL) extracted into the gizzard solution were greater than environmental background levels (US soil average 0.48 μg/g); thus, no natural source likely provides this amount of Sb. Therefore, there is evidence that Sb can be extracted from Pb shot in bird gizzards at detectable concentrations (above natural background). While further studies are needed to delineate the mechanisms of absorption and distribution, this study lends credence to the hypothesis that Sb may be a useful marker of Pb shot exposure in biological tissues, particularly when Pb pellets are not present nor observed in avian tissues.

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“…Unborn children have a high absorption rate of lead in the blood stream and consequently are particularly susceptible to the resulting neurological effects including delayed cognitive development, behavioral problems, and mental impairment (Huang et al 2012. Clinically relevant lead exposure, however, is not only important for humans but is documented in multiple wildlife taxa including mammals, amphibians, fish and birds (Pain et al 2019). Of these groups, birds make up the overwhelming majority of the available literature on lead poisoning in wildlife.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead exposure of North American raptors

Slabe¹

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Lead is an anthropogenic threat to terrestrial wildlife, has no physiological benefits, and is considered a neurotoxin. Legislation adopted in many developed countries restricts the uses of lead in consumer and industrial products such as pipe fittings, petrol, paint, and shot for use in waterfowl hunting. However, lead is currently categorized by the United States (US) government as a critical metal and common uses of lead still persist in North America. These include the use of rifle ammunition, shot in upland gamebird hunting, and fishing sinkers. Lead is also a byproduct of multiple industrial operations including smelters, coal power plants, oil refineries, and battery production facilities. As a consequence, there is regular deposition of potentially toxic amounts of lead in the environment. Anthropogenic lead influences the ecology and demography of multiple wildlife taxa, including a large number of avian species. Elevated lead concentrations are documented in avian scavengers as a result of ingesting lead fragments from hunter harvested animal carcasses. However, multiple forms of lead deposition exist in eastern North America, making the region ideal to study the pathways of lead exposure in wildlife. I documented the sources and pathways of lead exposure of raptors by studying novel species, seasons, regions and spatial scales. During the breeding season in the Chesapeake region of Maryland and Virginia, I found differences in blood lead concentrations among age groups of bald eagles but no difference between age groups of osprey. In the central Appalachians, I found that territorial red-shouldered hawks had higher blood lead concentrations in urban settings when compared to non-urban settings during the breeding season. I found that a community of facultative avian scavengers in eastern North America exhibited higher blood and liver lead concentrations during the fall and winter months compared to the spring and summer months when they scavenge to a lesser degree. On a nationwide scale, I found that 47% of bald eagles and 46% of golden eagles had femur lead concentrations above the threshold commonly accepted to indicate clinical lead poisoning. This work will provide information useful to the management of lead-influenced wildlife and identify potential opportunities for mitigation of environmental lead exposure and, using wildlife as sentinel species, help to understand potential human health hazards of lead exposure. v TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Effects of lead from ammunition on birds and other wildlife: A review and update

Cited by 189 publications

References 99 publications

Assessing the leaching behavior of different gunshot materials in natural spring waters

Assessing the leaching behavior of different gunshot materials in natural spring waters

Bioaccessibility of antimony and other trace elements from lead shot pellets in a simulated avian gizzard environment

Lead exposure of North American raptors

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