48
Study, country Sampling year (n) Association between blood
lead and frequency of game
consumption?
Reference
Greenland 1993-1994 (162 adult men and
women)
Yes Bjerregaard et al. 2004
Greenland 2003-2004 (50 adult men) Yes Johansen et al. 2006
Fish and Game study, Norway 2003-2004 (184 adults) Yes, but only in men Birgisdottir et al. 2013
MoBa validation study, Norway 2003-2004 (119 pregnant
women)
No VKM 2013
Lake Mjøsa study, Norway 2004-2005 (64 adults) No VKM 2013
North Dakota, USA 2008 (736 adults and children) Yes Iqbal et al. 2009
Riksmaten, Sweden 2010-2011 (273 adults) Yes Bjermo et al. 2013
Lead and Game study, Norway 2012 (147 adults) Yes Meltzer et al. 2013
Swedish hunters and families 2013 (113 adults) Yes Forsell et al. 2014 (report in
Swedish)
Table 2:Studies of association between game consumption and lead in blood
The distribution of fragmented lead ammunition within game
meat is dependent on several variables. Available studies on lead
concentrations in meat at different distances from the wound
channel were summarised in the VKM report from 2013. Based
on these data, it was concluded that removal of meat around
the wound channel reduces lead exposure from cervid meat
consumption. One study indicated that lead concentrations
above 0.1 mg/kg can be found at a distance of 25 cm from the
wound channel in red deer and wild boar Sus scrofa shot with
various unknown ammunition (Dobrowolska andMelosik 2008).
However, there were no available studies inmoose, and the data
did not allow a firm conclusion on the amount of meat needed
to be trimmed around the wound channel in order to remove
lead originating from the ammunition. Other possiblemeasures
identified by VKM to reduce lead exposure from cervid meat
would be to use lead based ammunitionwith low fragmentation
or ammunition without lead.
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the data available in 2013, 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 cervid meat in frequent
(monthly or more often) consumers of such meat is therefore
of concern. For these reasons, continued efforts are needed to
reduce lead exposure in the population.
Based on the risk assessment from VKM, the Norwegian Food
Safety Authority recommends that:
• Children, pregnant women, women of reproductive age
and people with high blood pressure should not eat
lead-shot cervid meat more often than once a month.
• The use of non-lead bullets removes the risk of lead
contamination of game meat.
• If lead ammunition is used, one should use bullets that only
fragment to a small extent on impact.
• Meat removal in a radius of 30 cm (i.e. a 60 cm diameter)
along the bullet channel is necessary. The effect of this is
however not fully known.
These recommendations are in linewith those produced by food
safety and risk assessment agencies of several other European
countries in recent years (Table 3).
Helle K. Knutsen, Anne-Lise Brantsæter, Jan Alexander & Helle M. Meltzer