Firearms and Ammunition Industry Responds to Minnesota DNR Preliminary Ammunition Study

NEWTOWN, Conn. – Yesterday, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released the preliminary results of study of a small sampling of traditional hunting bullets and other types of projectiles used by hunters to look at whether they fragment upon impact and, if so, how far fragments might travel from the wound channel. The DNR was quick to point out that its report was "preliminary," had not been peer-reviewed and required further analysis. In response to the report, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) – the trade association for the firearms industry – released the following statement:

The preliminary report found varying results among bullet types, but noted that in some instances fragments were detected "further from the wound channel than many hunters might assume." The DNR did not, however, conclude that hunters should not use traditional ammunition. Nor did they conclude that the use of traditional hunting ammunition presents a human health risk to hunters. The DNR noted that its goal was to provide hunters with science-based information on which they can make informed choices and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture encouraged hunters to continue to donate venison to the state’s venison donation program.

For more than a century, hundreds of millions of Americans have safely consumed big game, including whitetail deer, harvested using traditional hunting ammunition and there has never been a case of anyone suffering adverse health effects from consuming the meat. Put simply, there is no credible, peer-reviewed scientific evidence that using traditional hunting ammunition creates a human health risk.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently conducting a study of hunters and others that have consumed game to determine whether they have an elevated level of lead in their blood that can be attributed to the ammunition used to harvest the game. Preliminary indications of the CDC study released last month by the North Dakota Department of Health (DOH), which is participating in the study, show that none of those tested had unsafe blood lead levels. In fact, according to the North Dakota DOH's press release, the readings were far below the level considered elevated for a child (10 micrograms per deciliter); let alone the level for an adult (25 micrograms per deciliter).

Both the CDC and Minnesota DNR studies were done in response to reports of lead fragments having been found in a few packages of venison sampled at food pantries in North Dakota and a few other upper Mid-Western states. As a result, some states overreacted to the unscientific reports in an over abundance of caution and ordered that all venison at food pantries be destroyed, a clear overreaction not based on sound science.

The Iowa Department of Public Health has conducted an extensive panel of blood-lead testing for more than 15 years. Iowa was among the states that did not over react and order venison destroyed. The IDPH maintained at the time "that if lead in venison were a serious health risk, it would likely have surfaced within extensive blood lead testing since 1992 with 500,000 youth under 6 and 25,000 adults having been screened."

Based on widely divergent results of venison testing done in other states, it seems that the lead found in venison is most likely attributable to processing-related issues. This said, the NSSF has still always supported efforts to better educate hunters on how to safely and properly field dress game in order to further reduce the possibility of any lead exposure.

-30-