A prospective observational study assessing the feasibility of measuring blood lead levels in New Zealand hunters eating meat harvested with lead projectiles

Eric J Buenz, Gareth J Parry, Brent A Bauer, Lauren M Matheny, Klaasz Breukel, Eric J Buenz, Gareth J Parry, Brent A Bauer, Lauren M Matheny, Klaasz Breukel

Abstract

There is no safe level of lead exposure. Correlations suggest that hunters harvesting wild game with lead bullets may be at risk of lead exposure through eating minute lead particles from shrapnel in their wild game. This feasibility study will determine if it is possible to conduct an interventional controlled, blinded study to evaluate if there is a causal relationship between meat harvested with lead bullets and elevated blood lead levels in those who consume the meat. This is an observational case crossover study and the primary outcome is blood lead levels. Individuals will have blood lead levels measured 2-4 days after eating one serving of meat harvested with lead bullets. At three potential washout periods these same individuals will have a subsequent blood lead level analysis. This observational study will provide the data necessary to determine the washout period and sample size for a prospective interventional study to evaluate if meat harvested with lead bullets raises blood-lead levels in those who consume the meat. This study has been approved by the Health and Disabilities Ethics Committees of New Zealand.

Trial registration: NCT02775890.

Keywords: Deer; Heavy metals; Toxicology.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Design of the current feasibility study. Participants in the current study will harvest deer with standard lead projectiles. A baseline lead measure, a measure immediately after eating the lead-shot meat, and measures at 9, 18 and 27 days. These blood lead levels will allow a model to be built determining appropriate sample size for each potential washout period.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Design of the proposed subsequent crossover study. Participants in the subsequent study will be randomized to the lead or lead-free projectile arm of the study. After one year these participants will cross over to the other arm. Washout period and sample size will be determined by the results of the current feasibility study.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Required shot placement for participation in the study. Animals harvested for this study will be shot in the area indicated by a red box. This shot placement will be validated by photographs submitted to the study coordinator and will be the primary qualifying criteria for participating in the study. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Resource created for hunters interested in participating in the study. For outreach and to facilitate participant recruitment, bi-fold business-card sized information sheets that can be kept with the potential participant's firearms license are being created. The front and the back of the resource is shown.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Expected results from the blood lead level measures. Following the washout period and baseline blood lead level measurement participants will eat their lead-shot deer. Two to four days after eating lead-shot deer be asked to abstain from eating lead-shot meat and blood lead levels will be assed at 9, 18 and 27 days. These blood lead levels will allow the sample size calculation, based on the three potential washout periods, for a subsequent interventional study to be calculated.

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Source: PubMed

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