title: The transition to non-lead rifle ammunition in Denmark: National obligations and policy considerations.
abstract: The issue of Denmark regulating use of lead-free rifle ammunition because of potential risks of lead exposure in wildlife and humans was examined from a scientific and objective policy perspective. The consequences of adopting or rejecting such regulation were identified. Denmark is obliged to examine this topic because of its national policy on lead reduction, its being a Party to the UN Bonn Convention on Migratory Species, and its role in protecting White-tailed Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), a species prone to lead poisoning from lead ingestion. Lead-free bullets suited for deer hunting are available at comparable cost to lead bullets, and have been demonstrated to be as effective. National adoption of lead-free bullets would complete the Danish transition to lead-free ammunition use. It would reduce the risk of lead exposure to scavenging wildlife, and humans who might eat lead-contaminated wild game meat. Opposition from hunting organizations would be expected.
authors.affiliation: Danish Academy of Hunting, Skrejrupvej 31, 8410, Rønde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanstrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada. vthomas@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: Vernon G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Krone
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Department, Eberswalde-University, Schicklerstrasse 5, 16225, Eberswalde, Germany.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gremse
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D003718:Denmark; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005389:Firearms / Q000592:standards*; D033161:Government Regulation; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead
keywords: Conservation; Denmark; Health; Hunting; Lead-free bullets; Regulation