Latest article on lead micro and nano particles in deer and grouse

[Heym SR20]

Published 17 October 2025 in “Nature” from a group of Canadian Scientists. Using different techniques they have identified lead at a micro and nano particle size in venison and grouse shot with lead bullets and pellets. These are far smaller than the 0.1mm sized particles that are typically shown with x-ray examinations of carcass and also meat products.

It is suggested that these micro and nano particle sized fragments of lead are able to be transported directly from the gut into body in the same way as nano plastic particles.

It also shows that venison donated to food banks and deemed to be lead free after being scanned still contain these micro and nano fragments in sufficient quantity that puts the consumer over the CDC safe threshold.

The particles are found throughout the animal - its suggested that they may carried in the blood in the final moments before death occurs.

The researchers also show that the copper bits of traditional bullets and of monolithics do not fragment in the same way with no trace of micro or nano sized partridge being observed. They can and do break into big chunks.

There is good literature view which cites supporting research from around the world.

Lead micro- and nanoparticles directly observed within gunshot wounds in hunted game meat - Scientific Reports

Bullets, shot, and other projectiles from firearms can fragment inadvertently when they strike a target. The fragmentation process is concerning for hunting, where the projectiles are often lead-based, and the targets are animals that will likely be ingested by people and/or scavenging wildlife...

www.nature.com

 

[Nickb]

Nowt to worry about , scientists scaremongering as usual.

 

[Chris Richardson]

Published 17 October 2025 in “Nature” from a group of Canadian Scientists. Using different techniques they have identified lead at a micro and nano particle size in venison and grouse shot with lead bullets and pellets. These are far smaller than the 0.1mm sized particles that are typically shown with x-ray examinations of carcass and also meat products.

It is suggested that these micro and nano particle sized fragments of lead are able to be transported directly from the gut into body in the same way as nano plastic particles.

It also shows that venison donated to food banks and deemed to be lead free after being scanned still contain these micro and nano fragments in sufficient quantity that puts the consumer over the CDC safe threshold.

The particles are found throughout the animal - its suggested that they may carried in the blood in the final moments before death occurs.

The researchers also show that the copper bits of traditional bullets and of monolithics do not fragment in the same way with no trace of micro or nano sized partridge being observed. They can and do break into big chunks.

There is good literature view which cites supporting research from around the world.

Lead micro- and nanoparticles directly observed within gunshot wounds in hunted game meat - Scientific Reports

Bullets, shot, and other projectiles from firearms can fragment inadvertently when they strike a target. The fragmentation process is concerning for hunting, where the projectiles are often lead-based, and the targets are animals that will likely be ingested by people and/or scavenging wildlife...

www.nature.com

Can you show me a study that gives conclusive proof eating lead shot game causes illness in humans ? I believe I’ve asked for this before

 

[cjm1066]

Thanks for posting, an interesting read.

 

[Apthorpe]

Published 17 October 2025 in “Nature” from a group of Canadian Scientists. Using different techniques they have identified lead at a micro and nano particle size in venison and grouse shot with lead bullets and pellets. These are far smaller than the 0.1mm sized particles that are typically shown with x-ray examinations of carcass and also meat products.

It is suggested that these micro and nano particle sized fragments of lead are able to be transported directly from the gut into body in the same way as nano plastic particles.

It is suggested that Hitler and Elvis are living together on the moon in a gay marriage commune.

It also shows that venison donated to food banks and deemed to be lead free after being scanned still contain these micro and nano fragments in sufficient quantity that puts the consumer over the CDC safe threshold.

That is not true and no such claim is in the paper. Heym is again making a spurious link, this time between findings from different experiments injecting nanoparticles into mice.

The particles are found throughout the animal - its suggested that they may carried in the blood in the final moments before death occurs.

Again, no such claim is made in the paper.

The researchers also show that the copper bits of traditional bullets and of monolithics do not fragment in the same way with no trace of micro or nano sized partridge being observed. They can and do break into big chunks.

Dubious claim given that the paper examines the products from a single bullet.

There is good literature view which cites supporting research from around the world.

Lead micro- and nanoparticles directly observed within gunshot wounds in hunted game meat - Scientific Reports

Bullets, shot, and other projectiles from firearms can fragment inadvertently when they strike a target. The fragmentation process is concerning for hunting, where the projectiles are often lead-based, and the targets are animals that will likely be ingested by people and/or scavenging wildlife...

www.nature.com

As usual, a depressing continuation of a long-running habit of making over-excitable claims not merited by the science.

 

[Apthorpe]

Can you show me a study that gives conclusive proof eating lead shot game causes illness in humans ? I believe I’ve asked for this before

Are you stupid? I have already provided a full and comprehensive list of every such paper. For your aid, I reproduce the full list below:

 

[Sinistral]

Nowt to worry about , scientists scaremongering as usual.

Can you show me a study that gives conclusive proof eating lead shot game causes illness in humans ? I believe I’ve asked for this before

I can't see a list in #6 but I believe you have, Chris.
I've not followed the multi-page thread on this, but Conor from BASC or someone else may have obliged already.
This is becoming tedious, so it would be nice if those who discredit the scientific consensus could politely STFU.

Effects of lead on human health - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

www.gwct.org.uk

Lead-shot game

Consuming lead is harmful, health experts advise to minimise lead consumption as much as possible. Anyone who eats lead-shot game should be aware of the risks posed by consuming large amounts of lead, especially children and pregnant women.

www.food.gov.uk

https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/system/files/documents/European-Statement.pdf

 

[Apthorpe]

I can't see a list in #6 but I believe you have, Chris.
I've not followed the multi-page thread on this, but Conor from BASC or someone else may have obliged already.
This is becoming tedious, so it would be nice if those who discredit the scientific consensus could politely STFU.

Effects of lead on human health - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

www.gwct.org.uk

Lead-shot game

Consuming lead is harmful, health experts advise to minimise lead consumption as much as possible. Anyone who eats lead-shot game should be aware of the risks posed by consuming large amounts of lead, especially children and pregnant women.

www.food.gov.uk

https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/system/files/documents/European-Statement.pdf

The full list is in Post 6. It is tedious, and we'd be delighted if those who seek to misrepresent what the current state of science is were to stop it.

 

[Dunwaters]

Can you show me a study that gives conclusive proof eating lead shot game causes illness in humans ? I believe I’ve asked for this before

And I’e asked you for evidence to support your contention that, uniquely, lead sourced from ammunition is harmless.
Cat got your tongue?

 

[Apthorpe]

He hasn't ever made that contention.

 

[seedawood]

Two Lead Toxicity Deniers walking towards a cliff;
1st LTD; "AAHHhhhh..."
2nd LTD; "AAHHhhhh..."

 

[Buchan]

Can you show me a study that gives conclusive proof eating lead shot game causes illness in humans ? I believe I’ve asked for this before

As requested: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3436165

OK, one case in my search. But given that lead is poisonous, has no safe level in the body, and is absorbed in the gut, why continue to eat food shot with lead? Especially when there are alternatives that work.

The study above is interesting and confirms the suspicion that there are lot of tiny fragments from lead ammunition. And the smaller the fragment the greater the likelihood of absorption.

 

[timbrayford]

But surely there's nothing new in this, lead based projectiles have been in use for hundreds of years

 

[timbrayford]

As requested: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3436165

OK, one case in my search. But given that lead is poisonous, has no safe level in the body, and is absorbed in the gut, why continue to eat food shot with lead? Especially when there are alternatives that work.

The study above is interesting and confirms the suspicion that there are lot of tiny fragments from lead ammunition. And the smaller the fragment the greater the likelihood of absorption.

With all due respect nobody is forcing you to eat anything that you don't like. If you are worried about lead shot game, beef on the bone or radioactive woodcock just avoid it.

 

[Freeforester]

the scientific consensus

Was once that the earth was at the centre of the universe, and that the sun revolved around it, and not vice versa.

More recently the same nonsense was used to scam millions of people by suggesting properties of man-made carbon dioxide are capable of causing existentially threatening climate change.

For the avoidance of doubt, science does not progress by consensus - even If all the scientist on the planet signed up to the notion that the tide could be turned back by royal decree, it wouldn’t have changed the outcome.

Science is a methodology and process, not an opinion poll; if one single experiment can demonstrate the false nature of any hypothesis, it is indeed false. The absence of such a hypothesis does neither prove any ‘consensus’ to be true.

Exposure to plastic nanoparticles and endocrine disrupting chemicals might be a bit more useful to society as a whole, lead bashing (not as practised by the roofers, he is a dead man bashing if your Canuck research is indeed valid) is a bit niche and frankly otiose. You may however find that the funding sources made available for lead exposure may not be so readily available for plastics. Such is the fickle nature of the food industry, and the publics’ appetite for inconvenience/ preference for cognitive dissonance.

 

[Chris Richardson]

As requested: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3436165

OK, one case in my search. But given that lead is poisonous, has no safe level in the body, and is absorbed in the gut, why continue to eat food shot with lead? Especially when there are alternatives that work.

The study above is interesting and confirms the suspicion that there are lot of tiny fragments from lead ammunition. And the smaller the fragment the greater the likelihood of absorption.

Ok so I’ll ask again can you provide me with inconclusive proof that lead shot game causes harm in humans?

 

[Chris Richardson]

As requested: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3436165

OK, one case in my search. But given that lead is poisonous, has no safe level in the body, and is absorbed in the gut, why continue to eat food shot with lead? Especially when there are alternatives that work.

The study above is interesting and confirms the suspicion that there are lot of tiny fragments from lead ammunition. And the smaller the fragment the greater the likelihood of absorption.

I understand of course you’ve done very little stalking and shooting which is why I’m asking again as the example you provided was just rubbish

 

[Apthorpe]

As requested: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3436165

OK, one case in my search. But given that lead is poisonous, has no safe level in the body, and is absorbed in the gut, why continue to eat food shot with lead?

And why continue to eat any of the other dozens of food or drink items that contain lead and which account for a greater sum of the lead ingested by people? Seriously.

Especially when there are alternatives that work.

The study above is interesting and confirms the suspicion that there are lot of tiny fragments from lead ammunition. And the smaller the fragment the greater the likelihood of absorption.

It does. However what it confirms is what everyone with any sense already knew. The area of meat immediately.adjacent to wound channels is contaminated. What the study does not confirm, but what Heym incorrectly claims is that venison donated to food banks is contaminated (a remarkably irresponsible claim) and that these micro and nano sized particles are distributed through the whole carcass. I'm.sure we agree on that.

 

[Mr. Gain]

I'm always left wondering, if everyone ceased using all lead projectiles everywhere, in 10 years' time would we notice an iota of benefit? I suspect the answer is "no', because no quantifiable, demonstrable, harm has been demonstrated by those in favour of this state of affairs. The aim is to curtail shooting, not to save anyone or anything.

 

[Buchan]

Ok so I’ll ask again can you provide me with inconclusive proof that lead shot game causes harm in humans?

I thought I had. Woman had signs of lead poisoning, lead shot in her gut, no other sources of lead. Signs resolved after she had diarrhoea. It was a case report, why is it rubbish?