Lead (Pb), a cumulative neurotoxin, is the most widespread toxic metal globally. Today, the primary source of Pb contamination in soil worldwide is the use of lead-based ammunition. Extensive evidence from industrialized countries shows that lead bullets and shotgun pellets pose significant risks to wildlife, hunters, and game meat consumers. Lead fragments remain embedded in game meat and are easily ingested, leading to elevated blood lead levels in individuals who regularly consume wild game, as documented in Europe, the USA, and Canada. However, the severe health and environmental risks associated with lead-based ammunition have long been considered a concern primarily for industrialized nations, where lead pellets have been widely used since the early 15th century. In contrast, firearms and lead shot were only introduced to the Amazon and other global tropical regions in the early 20th century. Due to their high cost, shotguns did not become a common tool for subsistence hunting among indigenous communities until the late 20th century.
Despite this later adoption, our research team recently provided the first evidence that lead-based ammunition has also resulted in elevated Pb levels in wild game species in remote areas of the Peruvian Amazon. Given that subsistence hunting is a major source of protein for rural and indigenous communities in tropical rainforests—including the Amazon and beyond—lead-based ammunition may pose significant health risks to indigenous populations worldwide.
To investigate this, the INDILEAD project will analyze blood lead levels in indigenous communities from the tropical forests of Cameroon (Baka people), Peru, and Indonesia (Punan-Tubu people), aiming to identify key exposure pathways and assess the potential health impacts.
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2022. Code: PID2022-1414630B
