Inaccurate and misleading terminology may impede the protection of people and wildlife from adverse effects of lead ammunition.

Abstract

Inaccurate terminology and misinformation about lead (Pb) ammunition's toxicity may obstruct proposed regulation requiring use of non-lead substitutes. Elemental lead of anthropogenic origin in the environment is often confused with naturally-occurring lead ore compounds in the scientific literature, leading to suggestions that its use cannot be regulated. Inaccurate and misleading statements about the composition of substitutes for lead ammunition and fishing weights can cause public misunderstanding about their use and hinder proposals to end the use of lead-based products. It is necessary to clarify the composition of lead substitutes in nationally/internationally-approved lists of non-toxic products and to make them publicly available. Suitable products already exist but need to be adopted in most countries' legislation, especially if a broad transition to lead substitutes for all hunting ammunition and fishing weights is to be adopted. These concerns apply especially to the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries in which much scientific evidence supports the use of non-lead substitutes.