title: Is there a need to re-examine the approval of bismuth shotshell as a non-toxic alternative to lead based on the precautionary principle?
abstract: In 1997, the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) approved bismuth shotshell as an alternative to lead. We assessed whether there is a need to re-examine the toxicity of bismuth issue using the initial CWS toxicity guideline criteria. Review of the literature suggests that in the context of the precautionary principle, a re-examination of the approval of bismuth shotshell should be undertaken based on animal health issues, associated deficiencies in the analytical data used in the original assessment, and to a lesser extent, human health concerns.
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo, Department of Environment and Resource Studies, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. nfahey@stormcoalition.org
authors.forename: Nathan S C
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Fahey
authors.forename: Leonard J S
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Tsuji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001729:Bismuth / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D001729:Bismuth