Hunting with Lead Ammunition: A One Health Perspective

Abstract

Hunting with lead-based ammunition poses a significant health risk to humans, wildlife and ecosystems and is a One Health issue in the Arctic. Lead is highly toxic, and there is no safe level of exposure. In humans, even a moderate intake of meat from game harvested with lead-based ammunition may bring the blood lead level above thresholds for documented toxic effects on several physiological systems. Improved dressing practices reduce the amount of lead in edible parts, but all lead residues can never be removed. The use of lead-based ammunition for hunting also poisons wildlife and contaminates ecosystems and needs to be replaced by non-lead alternatives, which are equally effective and easily available at comparable prices. A sustainable solution to this One Health lead problem should be based on a multidisciplinary approach that requires science-based legislative actions on national and international levels. In essence, however, this is an ethical issue that can easily be solved at an individual level. The concept of One Health urges people to think globally and act locally. Thus, each hunter’s personal choice of ammunition is a key factor.

Published in

Title: Arctic One Health : Challenges for Northern Animals and People
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

SLU Authors

• Arnemo, Jon

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences
Fish and Wildlife Management

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87853-5_21
• ISBN: 978-3-030-87852-8
• eISBN: 978-3-030-87853-5

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/129703