Thread: Lead bullets and their risk to human health

Yes, children are another matter. They are at risk even if the exposure is very low. This is because their brain is still developing.
@kotuku the people you talk about had high levels of exposure DAILY for many years.

Hunters are exposed perhaps a dozen times a year. Obviously this will vary. You can't compare.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

Yes, children are another matter. They are at risk even if the exposure is very low. This is because their brain is still developing.
@kotuku the people you talk about had high levels of exposure DAILY for many years.

Hunters are exposed perhaps a dozen times a year. Obviously this will vary. You can't compare.

you seem to have misread my post .if one is to take your statement you cant compare my interpretation is you in effect are saying what i was ie casual or minute exposure to very small doses of lead is not overly significant .lead ,unlike cyanide or such agents is not an instantaneous killer ,in that is really requires a constant exposure to very high levels (read toxic) for the human body to ingest sufficient for it to pursue its deadly mission .

I was told recently that in certain times of the development of a child they are at much higher risk of even minute exposure to chemicals and not just lead - things like flouride can be dangerous as well and this is one of the reasons we are getting so much kickback to the requirement for councils to add flouride to water. There are times when unborn kids are especially vulnerable in the womb to getting chemicals running across from the mother, which is a bit of a pest as it's much easier to manage risk when the risk is the same all the time!

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

Hunters are exposed perhaps a dozen times a year. Obviously this will vary.

What is the basis for this statement?

I eat venison several times a week, if I were not cautious about my butchery practises, I would be consuming lead several times a week.

Only when you ate the "leady" bits every time, or if you have adopted the advice given me on a buffalo hunt. Shoot, shoot again then again and then once more.

Originally Posted by gimp

What is the basis for this statement?

I eat venison several times a week, if I were not cautious about my butchery practises, I would be consuming lead several times a week.

And I suspect that is where the real risks are, people that eat wild / shot meat several times a week and don't take care to minimize possible lead contamination.

Originally Posted by gimp

What is the basis for this statement?

I eat venison several times a week, if I were not cautious about my butchery practises, I would be consuming lead several times a week.

That's my point. Because you are carefull your exposure is low. If you were careless it would be high.

Edit to clarify.
When I say "exposed" means it is entering the body.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Only when you ate the "leady" bits every time, or if you have adopted the advice given me on a buffalo hunt. Shoot, shoot again then again and then once more.

Spot on.

Originally Posted by kotuku

as a former psychiatric nurse i recall nursing quite a few people who had suffered brain damage due to lead. salient points -a couple old time plumbers /drainlayers had over decades been consistently exposed to very high lead levels on a daily basis another 3 i can recall were born to parents at least one of whom again was a consistently exposed to very high levels of lead and ingested the same the4 damage to the person was considered to have occurred in the uteris as the feotus progressed through its developmental stages-these people were profoundly impacted .Whilst i agree lead is bloody dangerous occasional exposure or ingestion of minute quantities could in a lot of cases be Normalised .BTW FYI I nursed at least two old cobblers whod suffered brain damage through constant exposure to hot pots of old time cobblers glue mixes . Me -I get quite preturbed when i see cycling cyril or peddling priscilla gaily trundling along with infants toddlers strapped to the back of the family bicycle with their wee faces at the level of bus truck and car exhausts do our greenies ever consider that??

@kotuku reading this again, I'm unsure what your point is. We all know that high exposure levels over many years will cause brain damage.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

@kotuku reading this again, I'm unsure what your point is. We all know that high exposure levels over many years will cause brain damage.

my points are quite clear maybe you are overdue for a visit to to your optometrist .im out .

Recent The Adventurer fishing and hunting freebee rag.

At the risk of hurting people’s feeling wouldn’t it make sense to get your blood tested before panicking or dismissing this research outright?

Our household meat consumption would be about 95% wild game plus we handload and shoot frequently. I had bloods done a couple of years back and they came back in the normal range for lead (whatever that means). I admit we are often spoilt enough to only take the choice cuts often leaving whole shoulders on the carcass.

I will be looking at how to get the kids tested before jumping to conclusions but as an adult male this is all a bit.. meh..

As an aside a diet with a high percentage of primarily Apex predator fish species (snapper, hapuka, shark etc) has previously been associated with elevated mercury levels. Mercury isn't exactly a vital trace element either.

a minute study triggered by the activitie of one man eventually extrapolated to testing of 44 samples of meat .Anyone hazard a guess how much wild game meat is taken in NZ every week?????
Id be more convinced if it were a study with a wide sample field over a period of 1-3years to gain a more accurate picture .

Out of 44 samples of minced game meat, basically randomly delivered 21 returned levels higher than that recommended for consumption.

That's actually statistically significant and concerning and definitely should trigger further study. I for one will be a lot more careful about how close I get to the shocked meat and making sure that I don't end up being a tight wad and taking spattered stuff to mince it. I was pretty careful before, but now it will be a definite check.

One thing I'm wondering now is how many of our pooches are running on lead supplements, I know one guy that takes everything good for himself and anything around the shot isn't wasted it's dog tucker...