RESEARCH STUDIES
FEATURED STUDIES
2025 Assessing the long-range performance of copper bullets on North American elk (Cervus canadensis)
Copper bullets can be effective at long range when used by skilled shooters, with recovery rates being similar to or exceeding those reported in prior studies where ammunition type was likely a mix of lead and lead-free projectiles.
2012 - Lead Exposure in Bald Eagles from Big Game Hunting, the Continental Implications and Successful Mitigation Efforts
Eagles had significantly higher lead levels during the hunting season compared to no blood lead levels during the non-hunting season. The use of non-lead ammunition significantly reduced lead exposure in eagles, suggesting this is a viable solution to reduce lead exposure in eagles.
2025 Lead Micro- and Nanoparticles Directly Observed Within Gunshot Wounds in Hunted Game Meat
Micro- and nanoscale fragments, undetectable in medical radiographs, were directly observed within tissue for the first time and conclusively identified as lead using X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies. The mass of just those lead fragments that were below the detection limit of medical radiography was quantified and found to exceed levels set by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for protection of human health.
PERFORMANCE RELATED STUDIES
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Assessing the long-range performance of copper bullets on North American elk (Cervus canadensis)
2023 Weight retention and expansion of popular lead-based and lead-free hunting bullets
2017 Hunting of roe deer and wild boar in Germany: Is non-lead ammunition suitable for hunting?
2016 Efficacy of non-lead ammunition for culling elk at Theodore Roosevelt National Park
2016 Efficacy of non-lead rifle ammunition for hunting in Denmark
2014 A Comparison of Lead and Steel Shot Loads for Harvesting Mourning Doves
2010 Bullet Fragmentation and Lead Deposition in White-Tailed Deer and Domestic Sheep
2008 Examining Variability Associated with Bullet Fragmentation
2003 Evaluating Non-Toxic Substitutes for Lead Shot and Fishing Weights
WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED STUDIES
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2023 California condor poisoned by lead, not copper, when both are ingested
2023 Elevated lead exposure in Australian hunting dogs during a deer hunting season
2022 Environmental lead reduces the resilience of bald eagle populations
2022 Demographic implications of lead poisoning for eagles across North America
2021 Scavengers Reduce Potential Brucellosis Transmission Risk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
2021 Major Lead Exposure From Hunting Ammunition in Eagles From Sweden
2019 Effects of Lead From Ammunition on Birds and Other Wildlife
2014 The Persistent Problem of Lead Poisoning in Birds From Ammunition and Fishing Tackle
2013 Golden Eagle Lead Ingestion in Thunder Basin National Grassland
2012 Patterns of Mortality in Free-Ranging California Condors
2012 Lead poisoning and the deceptive recovery the critically endangered California condor
2011 Lead Exposure in Free-Flying Turkey Vultures is Associated with Big Game Hunting in California
2010 Lead Poisoning of Bald and Golden Eagles in the US Inland Pacific Northwest Region
2010 Feather Lead Concentrations and Pb Ratios Reveal Lead Exposure History of California Condors
2009 Potential Sources of Lead Exposure for Bald Eagles: A Retrospective Study
2009 A Global Update of Lead Poisoning in Terrestrial Birds from Ammunition Sources
2008 Blood Lead Levels of Common Ravens with Access to Big Game Offal
2008 VOLUNTARY LEAD REDUCTION EFFORTS WITHIN THE NORTHERN ARIZONA RANGE OF THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR
2006 Bullet Fragments in Deer Remains Implications for Lead Exposure in Avian Scavengers
2006 A Review of Lead Poisoning From Ammunition Sources In Terrestrial Birds
2003 Assessment of Lead Contamination Sources Exposing California Condors
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HUMAN HEALTH RELATED STUDIES
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2025 Lead Micro- and Nanoparticles Directly Observed Within Gunshot Wounds in Hunted Game Meat
2025 Addressing Donated Lead-Contaminated Meats within the Ohio Food Bank System
2020 Follow Up of Elevated Blood Lead Levels and Sources in a Cohort of Children in Benin
2019 Risks to Human Health from Ammunition Derived Lead in Europe
2018 Chronic Lead Intoxication from Eating Wild-Harvested Game
2016 Lead Ammunition Residues in the Meat of Hunted Woodcock: A Potential Health Risk to Consumers
2016 Health and Environmental Risks from Lead-based Ammunition: Science Versus Socio-Politics
2009 Lead Bullet Fragments in Venison from Rifle Killed Deer Potential for Human Dietary Exposure
2009 Hunting with Lead Association Between Blood Lead Levels and Wild Game Consumption
2009 Health Effects of Low Dose Levels of Lead Exposure in Adults and Children
2008 The Potential for Ingestion Exposure to Lead Fragments in Venison in Wisconsin
2008 Lead Venison Update: Studies Provide Insight for Deer Hunters
2008 Lead Shot Contribution to Blood Lead of First Nations People
2008 Assessment of Human Health Risk from Consumption of Wild Game Meat with Possible Lead
2007 Transfer of Lead from Shot Pellets to Game Meat During Cooking
2003 Monitoring of Umbilical Cord Blood Lead Levels and Sources Assessment Among the Inuit
1999 Lead Shot Contamination in Edible Portions of Game Birds and Its Dietary Implications
1998 Elevated Lead Concentrations in Edible Portions of Game Birds Harvested with Lead Shot