Well, I guess it makes sense and I am very curious as to the outcome. It looks like, based on Dr. Cornatzer’s “revelation” that there were large amounts of lead in hunter-killed venison, the state of North Dakota and the CDC tookblood samples from 738 people, from a wide range of ages, who have eaten venison and other game that was killed with lead ammunition.
The plan is to establish a baseline and see if there are elevated amounts of lead in the blood of these individuals that might correspond with the consumption of meat taken with lead ammunition. Results are expected to be available prior to the beginning of North Dakota’s 2008 hunting seasons.
“We hope to find nothing, of course,” Pickard said (Dr. Stephen Pickard is an epidemiologist for the ND State Health Department). “It will tell us if there is a substantial blood-lead level increase.”
You can read the whole story in the Casper Star-Tribune.
On a similar note, this AP article from Minnesota reports that State officials are meeting to discuss the possible dangers that lead in venison poses, and whether to make recommendations to food banks and hunters for taking precautions.
Folks, if you haven’t done it alread, I’d strongly recommend taking the time to investigate lead-free ammunition for your hunting rifles and handguns. Educate yourselves, because it’s almost inevitable that the lead ban is going to spread. It would also be worthwhile to start contacting your favorite ammunition manufacturer and asking about lead-free offerings. The industry will only respond to demand.
‘Nuff on that topic for now.
I couldn’t agree more with your post Phillip. I think we might as well learn about non-lead ammunition right now because this issue is not going to go away. That is for sure.