by crbutler on Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:30 pm
You are missing a few points.
For a regulation to do what it is supposed to do, it needs to address the actual cause of the problem.
In toxicology it becomes an analysis of cost and benefit.
The contention is that by eliminating lead shot we will reduce lead poisoning.
First, we have shown that lead shot is not a significant source of lead exposure- the folks exposed to lead shot are relatively small compared to the whole population.
That lead shot exposure does not result in lead level elevation.
That lead environmental contamination is neither mobile nor permanent from shooting lead shot.
Human lead level increases generally come from industrial exposure and pica.
Therefore your proposed regulation has minimal to no effect on public health.
Given that environmental lead contamination is not really associated with metallic lead, your argument on environmental grounds is a bit off. Shooting ranges mine the lead for reuse economically.
The evidence is there that the lead shot ban in waterfowl hunting has not resulted in a rebound in duck numbers or decrease in lead levels.
So the proof so far is any increase in lead regulation relating to projectile use is not going to result in any measurable decrease in health or improvement in outcomes for wildlife.
The massive decrease in use of lead antiknock compounds (they still use it in high grade aviation fuel) has been successful in reducing human exposure along with stopping lead paint use.
Doing occupational med assessments generally shows industrial exposure is related to eating around its use. (This is why all indoor ranges ban food/drink on the shooting areas…) and is more priming compound exposure than projectile related.
So benefit is minuscule.
Cost is quite expensive. Your cost to prevent one case of lead poisoning with your new rules is probably on the order of over $1 billion per case if not way higher.
So the only way it makes sense is if the safety of participants is not the real goal of the regulation. From the cost per prevention, it is much more likely it’s not intended to reduce lead exposure, but reduce shooting.
Ask what happened to small game hunting in CA with the lead ban and .22 rimfire use? The tin bullets they replaced rimfire bullets with are neither accurate nor very effective. Small game hunting is a shadow of itself there.
As to human iron exposure and its effects- it’s commonly seen in hemocromatosis. Multi organ failure, including liver, kidney, and heart damage.
The human cause by exposure is Bantu disease- caused by fermenting beer in iron barrels. It’s not common here because we don’t tend to ferment in iron pots.
BTW, severe iron overload is treated the same way significant lead poisoning is treated- iv chelation therapy.
Why are we all not agreeing with your idea?
Well, we are not all dumb or dumbed down by lead exposure.
It will disproportionately impact people who shoot recreationally.
It also impacts freedom when you start regulating with no actual impact likely. What will you regulate next to rid us of lead poisoning, especially if reducing lead poisoning isn’t what your regulations do? If all that is required is to get the majority to say, “why do I care, it won’t affect me?” Then it’s not an ethical thing to do.