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Published October 10, 2008, 12:00 AM

Lead contamination a concern in venison

Deer harvested with lead bullets may have tiny lead particles or fragments remaining in the processed meat.

Deer harvested with lead bullets may have tiny lead particles or fragments remaining in the processed meat.

Although lead in venison does not rival lead paint in older homes as a health risk for the public, the risk is not low enough to ignore.

Children under 6 years and pregnant women are at the greatest risk.

The amount of lead found in a small percentage of venison samples suggests that long term effects of lead consumption could occur in people who regularly eat venison shot with lead ammunition. However, there is currently no known evidence linking human consumption of venison to lead poisoning.

To reduce exposure to lead in venison:

  • Use non-lead ammunition such as copper or bonded bullets.

  • Practice marksmanship and hunting skills to get closer, making cleaner, lethal shots away from major muscle areas. Don’t shoot at running deer.

  • Avoid consuming internal organs.

  • Don’t use deer meat with excessive shot damage, or trim a generous distance away from the wound channel and discard any meat that is bruised, discolored or contains debris.

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