Yesterday's Weapons Forums

Nov 5, 8:58 PM EST


Study links lead in blood to wild game consumption

By JAMES MacPHERSON
Associated Press Writer

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- North Dakota health officials are recommending that pregnant women and young children avoid eating meat from wild game killed with lead bullets.

The recommendation is based on a study released Wednesday that examined the lead levels in the blood of more than 700 state residents. Those who ate wild game killed with lead bullets appeared to have higher lead levels than those who ate little or no wild game.

The elevated lead levels were not considered dangerous, but North Dakota says pregnant women and children younger than 6 should avoid eating venison harvested using lead bullets.

Those groups are considered most at risk from lead poisoning, which can cause learning problems and convulsions, and in severe cases can lead to brain damage and death.

The study, conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state health department, is the first to connect lead traces in game with higher lead levels in the blood of game eaters, said Dr. Stephen Pickard, a CDC epidemiolgist who works with the state health department.

A separate study by Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources previously found that fragments from lead bullets spread as far as 18 inches away from the wound.

"Nobody was in trouble from the lead levels," Pickard said. However, "the effect was small but large enough to be a concern," he said.

Pickard said the study found "the more recent the consumption of wild game harvested with lead bullets, the higher the level of lead in the blood."

Officials in North Dakota and other states have warned about eating venison killed with lead ammunition since the spring, when a physician conducting tests using a CT scanner found lead in samples of donated deer meat.

The findings led North Dakota's health department to order food pantries to throw out donated venison. Some groups that organize venison donations have called such actions premature and unsupported by science.

I have been following this since that tree hugger doctor ran the first x rays and instigated the whole mess. It is just a way to stop some hunters from feeding to poor. One of the states is only accepting bow killed deer now.

Rad

Thats another good reason to use Czech LPS

Ohwell, theres always something thats gonna kill ya.

and here we go again ............................................

Dec 3, 2:24 PM EST


Minn. testing finds lead in donated venison


ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Department of Health will begin testing all donated venison before it's distributed by food shelves due to fears of lead contamination.

The expanded screening announced Wednesday comes in response to a program of X-ray testing this fall that found lead fragments in random venison samples intended for donation.

The department says the testing showed 5.3 percent of whole-cut venison processed for the Minnesota Hunter Harvested Venison Donation Program contained lead fragments.

While the contamination was small, it comes despite changes in state rules intended to eliminate lead contamination, including prohibitions against donating ground venison.

Under the new policy, meat processors who registered with the program will still be allowed to accept meat.

However, the processors will be asked to store the donated venison until it has been tested and cleared for shipment to food shelves.

Look out lead bullet ban. One area of the PRK can't even possess any 22 ammo.

Rad