Effects of lead from ammunition on birds and other wildlife:A review and update

摘要

Poisoning of wild birds following ingestion oflead from ammunition has long been recognised andconsiderable recent research has focused on terrestrialbirds, including raptors and scavengers. This paper buildsupon previous reviews and finds that both the number oftaxa affected and geographical spread of cases hasincreased. Some lead may also be absorbed fromembedded ammunition fragments in injured birds whichrisk sub-lethal and welfare effects. Some papers suggestinter-specific differences in sensitivity to lead, although itis difficult to disentangle these from other factors thatinfluence effect severity. Sub-lethal effects have beenfound at lower blood lead concentrations than previouslyreported, suggesting that previous effect-level ‘thresholds’should be abandoned or revised. Lead poisoning isestimated to kill a million wildfowl a year in Europe andcause sub-lethal poisoning in another C 3 million.Modelling and correlative studies have supported thepotential for population-level effects of lead poisoning inwildfowl, terrestrial birds, raptors and scavengers.