Lead in Ammunition and
Fishing Tackle
For
the first blog post, I wanted to inform the dangers that lead can cause. Thru
many centuries, lead has been a pivotal role for ammunition and fishing tackle.
Lead is inexpensive, and effective for manufacture to produce. However, with
low levels of exposure to wildlife, and humans; lead can be toxic. Lead has
been known to cause damage to the nervous system, which leads to paralysis, or
death. However, lower levels of toxic; lead can damage organs, tissues, and
neurological damage.
In
the United Kingdom (UK), they have found that lead poison was the cause of
death of swans in 1970. The UK realized the lead in the fishing sinkers, had distributed
to the killing of the waterfowls. The realization of lead harming waterfowl,
and upland game birds has put restriction to the uses of lead in ammunition,
and fishing tackle.
The
most common lead that is stable in the environment is called Metallic lead.
Metallic lead can be intact for decades or even centuries, through the soil, or
taken up by plants. Lead can come in contact with soil, by whether or not you
use lead bullets. The soil then absorbs
the lead, and as it gets consumes by invertebrates, mammals, and birds they
ingest higher elevated lead concentrations.
Humans
heath can be a major concern when we ingest lead. We can have neurological
effects, or even stunt growth, especially young kids. The consumption of eating
game birds, that is effected with lead has the possibility to rise the
blood-lead levels in humans. Even if the lead bullet passed through the game
species, that species can still contain even a small amount of lead. I hunt
game birds, and I also eat them when I get the chance. I had no clue that
eating game birds that has lead can increase the blood-lead levels of humans.
If lead comes into contact with acid in the stomach, lead can be released into
your system. I have a tendency to bite down on lead containing sinkers onto my
fishing line, and I had no clue the damage that lead to do to the human body.
With
the ban to hunt waterfowl, and coots with lead, the North America has been able
to successfully decrease the lead exposure for waterfowls. However, the population
for scavengers such as the California condor population will be at risk,
because of being exposed to lead poison. Even though, people cannot hunt with
lead for waterfowl, they are still able to use lead for raptors and avian
scavengers.
As
of 2008, there has been 24 states that put restrictions to lead ammunition for
upland game birds, and eagles. These restrictions are only meant to minimize
the uses of lead ammunition. UK, Canada, other countries, and five states in
the U.S. put restrictions on lead sinkers, and fishing tackles. This has
allowed for species like swans, and loons to not be affected as much.
With
the use of lead ammunition, there has been a lot of effort in the testing, and
regulation for alternatives ammunition for hunting waterfowl, and water birds.
Nontoxic ammunition has been developed and you are able to buy them in North America.
They have been developed for shotguns, and rifles. Substitutes for lead fishing
tackle has been produce by markets for a couple of years, however, not all of
the alternative metals can be safe for waterfowl, birds, and mammals to digest.
As of 2009 the council approved lead in ammunition and fishing tackle, but
however it expires in October 2017.
A few things that we can prevent the spread of
lead is: buy nontoxic ammunitions, and alternative fishing tackle. We can
educate the public about the damage that lead causes to humans, upland bird
game species, and waterfowl. Even though lead had been known to be used throughout
the century, that they can be replaced by nontoxic ammunition.
Dakota Shadle
Works Cited
Lead in Ammunition and Fishing
Tackle. 2009. The Wildlife Society. the wildlife society <http://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/PS_LeadinAmmunitionandFishingTackle.pdf>
Accessed 1, Mar. 2017
Although steel shot and lead substitutes for fishing tackle may be a tad bit more expensive to manufacture, I would have to agree with you in the fact that there are less harmful alternatives to using lead. Lead poisoning pose a huge health risk to both humans and wildlife. Bio-accumulation is also another danger that has been linked to the use of lead in ammunition and fishing tackle. Eagles and other piscivorous birds bio-accumulate the lead absorbed by their prey. Lead in ammunition and fishing tackle is a much bigger problem than most people realize. Thanks Dakota!
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you on that steel should be used for hunting waterfowl. I also think that steel should be used for all sinkers. Look what the lead has done to the waterfowl so why would we not use it for our sinkers that are directly in the water being exposed to thousands and thousands of living organisms. Yes it will be more expensive to buy but in the future it will be better for the habitat and animals.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you steel shot is a better alternative for hunting waterfowl. Lead poisoning is very serious and it is something that can be controlled. Changing lead sinkers to steel would not be a bad idea at all just think of all the sinkers that get left behind in the streams by anglers. I know steel sinkers would be more expensive but it would be worth it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you steel shot is a better alternative for hunting waterfowl. Lead poisoning is very serious and it is something that can be controlled. Changing lead sinkers to steel would not be a bad idea at all just think of all the sinkers that get left behind in the streams by anglers. I know steel sinkers would be more expensive but it would be worth it.
ReplyDeleteI agree lead ammunition and tackle should be replaced with steel or another less harmful substitute when hunting for waterfowl or fishing. The lead that gets left in the water, if your line breaks, pollutes the water, granted in small amounts this may not be a problem, but who knows how much lead is down there. Hunting with lead ammunition is environmentally harmful, not only if the lead shot gets into the water, but also if any predator eats meat that has been exposed to lead it could get lead poisoning, the same goes for people. The lead accumulates in animals that ingest the meat of an animal killed with lead shot, and will eventually lead to their deaths. Though steel ammunition and tackle are more expensive in the grand scheme of things buying them is worth the extra money that you pay.
ReplyDeleteI was not aware of all the hazards lead left on the environment poses. I liked the background information on the effects on bird species and humans. If this is the case, then there should be more consideration being put into the materials being put into ammunition and tackle. I noticed suggestions for steal, but what about aluminum or other lightweight metals?
ReplyDeleteUsing steel shot for hunting waterfowl is in my opinion a good thing mostly. It reduces the amount of lead ingested by waterfowl which is good, but having lead exclusive ammo for rifles is stupid to me. Ballistically speaking, lead is much more favorable because it expands which leads to a more ethical kill on game. Using lead alternatives such as tungsten or steel for fishing sinkers is a good idea on paper but it is much more costly than lead sinkers. I guess if you really wanted to not use lead you could just tie an old washer or bolt to your line in place of a sinker. Its almost free if not free and works.
ReplyDeleteEveryone seems to agree with the logic of using non-toxic shot for waterfowl and sinkers for fishing. But what about all hunting, including big game and upland game? Piscivorous birds are not the only species that bio-accumulate. All wildlife species, including humans, can get sick from lead. Lead ammunition is actually one of the leading factors for the decline of California condors because they scavenge on big game which can have trace amounts of lead from poor shots. Other birds are also susceptible to mistaking lead pellets for small stones when they fill their crops to aid in mechanical digestion. I feel non-toxic should not be exclusive to fishing and waterfowl, but all species, where ever and whatever you hunt. The USFWS actually tried to ban the use of lead on wildlife refuges, but was cut down by backlash from hunting and shooting organizations who framed it as an "attack on guns". I feel as sportsmen it is our responsibility to everything in our power to conserve, protect, and respect all of our natural resources, wherever we hunt and no matter what we pursue.
ReplyDelete