145
On 22 March 2013 a group of eminent scientists signed a
consensus statement on Health Risks from Lead-Based
Ammunition in the Environment with a particular focus
on impacts in the USA
item/6dq3h64x . The statement below, based upon the USA
statement, is intended to perform a similar function, but with a
focus on impacts in Europe.
We, the undersigned, with scientific expertise in lead and human
and/or environmental health, draw attention to the overwhelming
scientific evidence, summarised below, on the toxic effects of lead
on human and wildlife health. In light of this evidence, we support
action in Europe to reduce and eventually eliminate the release
of lead to the environment through the discharge of lead-based
ammunition, in order to protect human and environmental health.
1. Lead is a non-essential toxic metal that occurs naturally,
but has been widely distributed by human activities. Today,
most exposure to lead in the general population across the
European Union (EU) is from the diet (EFSA 2010) because
other sources of exposure, such as plumbing, paints and
petrol have been reduced by regulation. Lead is one of
the most well-studied contaminants and overwhelming
scientific evidence demonstrates that:
a. Leadiswellestablishedtobetoxictomultiplephysiological
systems in humans and other vertebrate animals. The
most sensitive systems are the haematopoietic, nervous,
cardiovascular and renal systems (EFSA 2010). In addition,
The International Agency for ResearchonCancer classified
inorganic lead as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group
2A) (IARC 2006).
b. No ‘safe’ blood lead level in children has been identified
belowwhich negative health effects cannot be detected
(CDC 2012). Absorption of lead leading to even slightly
elevated levels injures the developing human brain and
is associated with lasting effects on intelligence (IQ) and
behaviour.
2. Due to lead’s harmful effects, most previously significant
sources of lead in the environment in Europe, such as leaded
petrol, lead-based paint, and lead-based solder, have been
significantly reduced or eliminated over the past 50 years.
EU standards of lead in drinking water have been, and
continue to be, substantially reduced to protect public
health (SCHER 2011). Lead-based ammunition is the most
significant unregulated source of lead deliberately emitted
into the environment in the EU.
a. The release of toxic lead into the environment
via the discharge of lead-based ammunition is
largely unregulated. Other major categories of lead
consumption, such as leaded batteries and sheet lead/
lead pipes, are largely regulated in their environmental
discharge/disposal.
3. The discharge and accumulation of spent lead-based
ammunition in the environment poses significant health
risks to humans and wildlife. The best available scientific
evidence demonstrates that:
a. The discharge of lead-based ammunition substantially
increases environmental lead levels, especially in areas
of concentrated shooting activity (Mellor & McCartney
1994; Rooney et al. 1999).
b. While regulations exist and are effective in restricting the
use of lead gunshot in some EU countries (Denmark and
the Netherlands), most EU countries have only partial or
limited restrictions on lead ammunition use. Emissions
of ammunition-derived lead to the environment remain
because of lack of regulation and, where regulations
exist, poor compliance and lack of effective enforcement
(AEWA 2012). For example, compliance with regulations
introduced in 1999 restricting the use of lead gunshot
for shooting wildfowl in England has been shown
to be very low with 70% of locally-sourced wildfowl
purchased having been shot illegally with lead (Cromie
APPENDIX 2
Wildlife and Human Health Risks from Lead-Based
Ammunition in Europe. A Consensus Statement by Scientists