Abstract

This study investigated whether game meat may contain nanoparticles of lead from ammunition. Lead nanoparticles in the range 40 to 750 nm were detected by ICP-MS in single particle mode in game shot with lead-containing bullets. The median diameter of the detected nanoparticles was around 60 nm. The particle mass concentration ranged from 290 to 340 ng/g meat and the particle number concentrations from 27 to 50 million particles/g meat. The size limit of detection strongly depended on the level of dissolved lead and was in the range of 40 to 80 nm. In game meat sampled more than 10 cm away from the wound channel, no lead particles with a diameter larger than 40 nm were detected. In addition to dissolved lead in meat that originated from particulates, the presence of lead nano particles in game meat represents a hitherto unattended source of lead with a largely unknown toxicological impact to humans.

Keywords

Lead nanoparticles; Single particle; ICP-MS; Lead ammunition; Game; Enzymatic digestion

Published in

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
2017, Volume: 409, number: 7, pages: 1877-1885

SLU Authors

• Widemo, Fredrik

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Swedish Hunters' Association

UKÄ Subject classification

Analytical Chemistry
Fish and Wildlife Management
Food Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-0132-6

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/79805