Lead exposure in consumers of culled invasive alien mammals in El Palmar National Park, Argentina

Abstract

Consumption of meat from animals hunted with Pb ammunition can cause toxic accumulation with consequent health risks, even if relatively small amounts are consumed in each exposure. In El Palmar National Park, Argentina, invasive alien mammals, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and axis deer (Axis axis), are culled with Pb ammunition and their meat is consumed. In this study, we evaluated blood Pb concentrations in 58 consumers of culled game and examined Pb exposure risk according to their demographics, duty, and consumption habits. Likewise, the likelihood of exposure was evaluated by quantifying Pb concentrations in meat samples of seven culled axis deer. Twenty-seven participants (46%) had detectable blood Pb levels (limit of detection = 3.3 μg/dL), with an average 4.75 ± 1.35 μg/dL (geometric mean ± geometric S.D.); the average for all participants was 3.25 ± 1.51 μg/dL. Blood Pb concentrations were significantly higher in hunters, in participants who reported consuming game meat more than 5 times per week, and in participants who reported frequently consuming cured game meat (compared to cooked or pickled). Pb concentration varied significantly along the trajectory of the bullet in deer muscle, being highest at mid-point but with detectable Pb levels even in distant tissue samples (control), suggesting potential for dietary intake by consumers. These findings provide evidence of Pb exposure risk in consumers and emphasize the relevance of replacing Pb ammunition with non-toxic alternatives. This change would reduce dietary exposure in frequent consumers and allow the use of game meat as safe food for people whilst eliminating collateral risks to wild animals and the environment.

Lead contamination in Australian game meat

“…Meanwhile, meat taken from near the wound channel in the same two studies had concentrations of 13.958 and 15.82 ppm w.w., respectively. Similar results have been reported for chital (axis) deer from Argentina (Tammone et al, 2021 ) and red deer from Poland (Dobrowolska and Melosik, 2008 ). Much of this variation can be explained by the heterogeneous distribution of lead fragments within any cervid shot (Tsuji et al, 2009 ; Wilson et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Some ingested lead is absorbed from the intestine into the blood, and a causal relationship between consumption of lead-contaminated game meat and increase in blood lead levels (BLLs) has been shown experimentally in pigs (Hunt et al, 2006 ). There is a well-established association between increased BLLs in humans and consumption of game meat harvested with lead-based ammunition, in proportion to the amounts of game consumed (Berky et al, 2022 ; Meltzer et al, 2013 ; Tammone et al, 2021 ). Cooking processes using acid ingredients (wine, vinegar or marinades) can further solubilise lead particles (Mateo et al, 2011 ; Mateo et al, 2007 ; Schulz et al, 2021 ).…”

“…These have included game animals harvested with shotguns, including birds such as thick-billed murre ( Uria lomvia ) in Greenland (Johansen et al, 2001 ) and impala ( Aepyceros melampus ) in South Africa (Nkosi et al, 2022 ), white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) in the USA (Wilson et al, 2020 ), and a variety of other species of game bird and small mammals across Europe (Pain et al, 2010 ). Data from mammals harvested with rifle bullets includes ground venison from white-tailed deer donated to shelters in the USA (Cornatzer et al, 2009 ; Totoni et al, 2022 ), moose ( Alces alces ) from Norway (Lindboe et al, 2012 ), roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) from Germany (Schulz et al, 2021 ), chital (axis) deer ( Axis axis ) from Argentina (Tammone et al, 2021 ) and meat sauce made from wild pigs ( Sus scrofa ) sold commercially in Italy (Lenti et al, 2021 ). Studies have also been proposed on venison harvested by recreational hunters in New Zealand (Buenz et al, 2016 ).…”

Increasing the Awareness of Health Risks from Lead-Contaminated Game Meat Among International and National Human Health Organizations

“…Benin (Ahmadi et al, 2018); South Africa (Nkosi et al, 2021)), and South America (e.g. Argentina (Tammone et al, 2021;Uhart et al, 2019) and Peru (Cartró-Sabaté et al, 2019)). Titus et al (2009) reported on the importance of large and small game animals in Alaskan residents' diet and the large number of animals they take annually.…”

Efforts to ban lead ammunition: a comparison between Europe and the United States

“…The use of lead ammunition poses human, wildlife, and environmental risks wherever it occurs and countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina are all undergoing similar transitions to those seen in Europe and the U.S. For example, in Australia, early concern focused on poisoning of wildfowl from lead shotgun ammunition (Koh and Harper 1988), with a more recent growth in concern around the use of lead rifle ammunition (Hampton et al 2018) and efforts to assess the efficacy of nonlead rifle ammunition for shooting mammals (Hampton et al 2021). Similar evidence of risks to wildlife from ingesting lead shotgun ammunition (Schwab and Daury 1989, Anderson et al 2000, Ferreyra et al 2009, Uhart et al 2019) and fragments of lead rifle ammunition (Lambertucci et al 2011, Legagneux et al 2014, Buenz and Parry 2019, as well as to human health (Fachehoun et al 2015, Parry and Buenz 2020, Tammone et al 2021) exists also in Argentina, Canada, New Zealand, and elsewhere (Chiba et al 1999, Ahmadi et al 2018, Garbett et al 2018.…”