Lead pollution from hunting ammunition in Argentina and current state of lead shot replacement efforts

UHART, MARCELA; MUCHIUTTI, AYELÉN; CASELLI, ANDREA; ROMANO, MARCELO; SANTIAGO, MARTÍN; FERREYRA, HEBE DEL VALLE; ALZUAGARAY, SILVIA

AMBIO

ROYAL SWEDISH ACAD SCIENCES

Lugar: Estocolmo; Año: 2019 vol. 48 p. 1015 - 1022

0044-7447

Waterfowl hunting in Argentina is a profitable industry that attracts hunters from all over the world. Most hunting occurs as high-end hunting tourism, through which registered outfitters service predominantly foreign clients on private lands. Lead pollution from hunting ammunition is increasingly recognized as a significant local problem, impacting wildlife, aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and extending to vulnerable human rural communities. Regulatory frameworks that restrict lead shot use are a budding success story but remain challenged by their constrained geographic range and limited compliance rooted in unavailable nontoxic ammunition. Changes in hunting practices in Argentina are long overdue.