--- title: Thoughts About Lead Poisoning for Hunters and Their Dinner Guests description: Studies have shown elevated blood lead levels and lead poisoning in humans consuming large and small game hunted with lead ammunition. image: https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-16131463-jpg/images/texas_whitetail-wr.jpg --- [![Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hub/81069/file-1539748069.jpg)](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/) # Welcome to RRPedia Your Interactive Resource for EPA RRP Information ## ![RRPedia logo](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-1549005086-jpg/images/RRPedia_Logosmall_-wr-1.jpg)Looking for accurate information about the EPA RRP rule? RRPedia has been created by Shawn McCadden to help remodelers and others affected by the New EPA Renovation Repair and Painting Rule.  ## Please read *[RRPedia Use and Contribution Information](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/using-and-contributing-to-rrpedia-/) *before using or contributing to RRPedia.   --- # You Can Browse For RRP Topics By Using The Tags List To The Right ## [Thoughts About Lead Poisoning for Hunters and Their Dinner Guests](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/bid/74863/Thoughts-About-Lead-Poisoning-for-Hunters-and-Their-Dinner-Guests) Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/author/shawn-mccadden) on Tue, Feb 14, 2012 @ 06:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## **Thoughts About Lead Poisoning for Hunters and Their Dinner Guests** ![avoiding Lead poisoning cooking wild game, ](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-16131463-jpg/images/texas_whitetail-wr.jpg)International and domestic studies have shown elevated lead levels in humans consuming large and small game hunted with lead ammunition.  Studies prove that regular consumption of game meat in adults and children found elevated blood lead levels compared with background levels, especially among children.    In terms of lead ingestion, risk is dependent on how much lead is consumed and the frequency of exposure; therefore, limiting the total amount of lead exposure reduces harm. Factors that increase dietary lead exposure from spent lead bullet fragments in wild game include: •The frequency and amount of hunted game that a person consumes. •The age of the person consuming the meat. •The degree of bullet fragmentation. •The path which the bullet enters the wildlife. •The care with which the meat surrounding the bullet wound is removed •The use of any acidic treatments of the meat that would dissolve the lead (such as coating the carcass with vinegar or use of acidic marinades in cooking), which can increase exposure. •Fragmentation that occurs due to the bullet hitting something hard (e.g., bone). #### **Important Considerations When Processing Your Bounty:![Venison Sausage](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15744098-jpg/images/deer_sausage-wr.jpg?width=292&height=194&name=deer_sausage-wr.jpg)** There is expected to be a higher incidence of lead bullet fragments in ground meats than in loins or roasts because meat trimmed away from the bullet channel can contain more fragments. This is because the muscle tissue around the wound channel is not discarded, but rather is used in burger, stews, and sausages.   It is recommended that the tissue around the wound channel be removed during food preparation. Variation in lead concentrations in small animals such as birds is large, most likely due to the shooting skill of the hunter. Birds where the hunter has not destroyed the body in killing it will have less lead exposure when consumed. When preparing venison, avoiding vinegar and other acidic substances is suggested, as acids can make lead more soluble and therefore more readily absorbed in the body. Also, when processing, minimizing the batching of multiple deer is thought to reduce cross-contamination. #### **Ways to avoid the problem:** [![Lead vs copper bullets](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15771334-jpg/images/lead_vs_copper_bullets-wr.jpg?width=150&height=100&name=lead_vs_copper_bullets-wr.jpg)](http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_ce4b09f0-dff7-11e0-9e5f-001cc4c03286.html)You could switch to archery!  If that is not an option for you consider use of non-toxic ammunition.  Currently, the US Fish and Wildlife Service approves the use of 11 types of non-toxic shell-shot with various material compositions. For example shell-shot is available in steel, bismuth, tungsten, and tin.  Also, bullets are available in copper and metal alloys.  The picture to the left shows he difference when a lead and a copper bullet were fired into a barrell.  The copper bullet mushroomed while its lead counterpart shredded during a recent [demonstration at Waterloo, Wisc. Gun Club](http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_ce4b09f0-dff7-11e0-9e5f-001cc4c03286.html). **Note:** This information was summerized from ["Lead Issues at National Park Service Units:Identifying Potential Sources and Minimizing Exposure"](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/Default.aspx?app=LeadgenDownload&shortpath=docs%2fLead+Issues+at+National+Park+Service+Units.pdf) by the National Park Service Office of Public Health Topics: [Health Effects of Lead](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/health-effects-of-lead), [Non-RRP Lead Topics](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/non-rrp-lead-topics) [![cs-ye-234x16](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hub/81069/file-1553381212.gif)](http://www.copyscape.com/duplicate-content/) ### Subscribe to RRPedia by Email and get notified about new postings as soon as they happen! ### Are You Documenting Yor Crew's Compliance With The RRP Rule?  [![download free RRP checklist](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/81069/dd6aace9-6cb0-4ad2-a55a-09846d7f5b5e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/81069/dd6aace9-6cb0-4ad2-a55a-09846d7f5b5e) ### Still Using a Yellow Pad for Your Estimating? 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[Worker Training (15)](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/worker-training) ### I just wanted to say thank you for your efforts to keep us informed.  *"Thank you again for the hundreth time for keeping a vigil on this business nightmare. Your site is one of the best resources we have to stay on level ground"*  **Christian Peter**   *"I am quite impressed with all the confusion out there at Shawn McCadden’s clear and concise voice that continues to help contractors and those involved in this industry truly understand the rule. His efforts should be applauded."*  **Christopher Wagner, LBPFiles**   *"RRPedia is an accurate and contractor friendly interpretation of the very complex and confusing EPA RRP rule"* * * *"Thanks for taking the time to write the blog.  It's about the only place one can go to get some serious info on this dreadful subject"*   *"I would like to begin by thanking Shawn for all of his postings and education that he has been sharing with the remodeling industry. He has personally been extremely helpful in guiding me through various interpretations of the RRP rule, his advice and knowledge are priceless."* **Michael A. Mahoney*** * ### Suggest or Contribute a RRPedia Topic ### Want a Simple Summary of the EPA RRP? #### Shawn McCadden has created an EPA RRP Summary for Remodelers. *"Hi Shawn, **Nice RRP write up on the website.   I've already forwarded a link to it to a number of local builder types."*   #### [Click here to go to the summary.](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/epa-rrp-summary-for-remodelers-by-shawn-mccadden/)  You can also download it if you want your own copy. ### Add this widget to your Web page, blog, or social networking site. A widget is a CDC.gov application that displays the featured content directly on your web page. Click the buttons to see the next tip to prevent lead poisoning.