44
ABSTRACT
Lead toxicity was re-assessed by international risk assessment bodies in 2010 and 2011 and was seen as more toxic
than in previous risk assessments. No tolerable intakes of lead have been identified. High lead levels in minced meat
from moose Alces alces hunted using expanding lead-based ammunition has previously been reported in Norway. In
2012, the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) assessed the risk of lead exposure from cervid meat to
the Norwegian population. In conjunction with that, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health investigated associations
between cervid meat consumption and concentrations of lead in blood in Norwegians (the Norwegian Game and Lead
study).The results showed that cervidgamemeat consumptiononceamonthormorewas associatedwithapproximately
31% increase in blood lead concentrations. The increase seemed to be mostly associated with consumption of minced
cervid meat. VKM concluded that the blood lead concentrations measured in participants in the Norwegian population
studies were in the range of, and partly exceeding, the reference values for increased risk of high blood pressure and
increased prevalence of chronic kidney disease in adults, and for neurodevelopmental effects in children. The additional
lead exposure from cervidmeat in frequent (monthly or more often) consumers of suchmeat is therefore of concern. For
these reasons, continued efforts are needed to reduce lead exposure in the population.
Key words: human health, blood lead, cervid meat, risk assessment, dietary study, Norway
INTRODUCTION
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal found in small
amounts in the earth’s crust and is additionally an environmental
contaminant due to human activities. Humans and animals are
exposed to lead through food, drinking water, air and dust. This
exposure and its subsequent accumulation in the body is known
to be harmful both to humans and animals.
In 2010 and 2011, respectively, both the European Food
Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Joint Food and Agriculture
Organisation/World Health Organisation Expert Committee on
Food Additives (EFSA 2010, JECFA 2011) concluded, based on
dose-response analyses, that there were no obvious thresholds
for critical endpoints of lead exposure, i.e. there is not a level
under which there is no increased risk of adverse health effects.
Neurodevelopmental effects in children and increased blood
pressure in adults are critical effects of lead exposure identified
by both EFSA and JECFA (EFSA 2010, JECFA 2011). Children
are more sensitive than adults to the effects of lead because
their brain is under development. Increased blood pressure
due to lead exposure is not an adverse outcome by itself, but
is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality.
The EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM)
(EFSA 2010) identified Benchmark Dose Lower-confidence
Limits (BMDL) for reduction in IQ, increased blood pressure and
prevalence of chronic kidney disease (Table 1).
Associations between consumption of large game
animals and blood lead levels in humans in Europe:
the Norwegian experience
Helle K. Knutsen†, Anne-Lise Brantsæter, Jan Alexander & Helle M. Meltzer
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
† Corresponding author email address: