Lead in hunting ammunition represents a threat to eagles and vultures
In Europe, eagles and vultures are heavily exposed to lead poisoning from lead ammunition used for hunting. This is the result of a research carried out by an Italian team made up of experts from Stelvio National Park, Sondrio Province, Istituto Zooprofilattico della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER) and ISPRA, and recently published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
The researchers analysed tissue samples from 252 eagles and vultures found dead in south-central Europe, in a large area stretching from the Pyrenees to the Apennines. Results were striking: 44% of the birds was lead contaminated and more than a quarter of them had lead concentrations revealing lead poisoning.
Eagles and vultures ingest lead ammunition when feeding on un-retrieved prey hit by hunters or viscera discarded from shot ungulates to prevent the spread of intestinal bacteria into the meat and to bring prey home more easily.
This study will support the technical dossier drafted by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on behalf of the European Commission, to introduce a generalised ban on the use of lead ammunition in hunting. Lead ammunition represents a threat not only to raptors and other wild birds; it is a source of lead pollution and poses concrete risks to humans consuming the meat of shot game.
Lead in ammunition: problems and possible solutions
 Aquila Reale |
 Grifone |
 Avvoltoio Monaco |
 Gipeto |
Foto di Massimo Piacentino