5
presents to human health, particularly that of young children. It
is estimated that at least thousands andpossibly tens of thousands
of young children are currently consuming sufficient game to
potentially risk health effects in the UK (Green and Pain 2015).
Lead ammunition may be traditional (Cromie et al. 2015) but
it is doubtful whether future generations would perpetuate a
tradition of knowingly adding lead to food or exposing wildlife
to poisoning. It will be for politicians to decide whether these
wildlife and human health risks and impacts combined are
sufficient to require sports shooters in theUK touse thenon-toxic
ammunition available, and to set a timetable for implementing
the recommendation, made in 1983, of the Royal Commission
on Environmental Pollution.
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The Lord Krebs Kt, MA, DPhil, FRS, FMedSci, Hon DSc.
Wild shot game is increasing in popularity: lead levels
in game are currently unregulated.
Photo Credit: Denis Vermenko
Foreword