Tsuji Leonard J S, Wainman Bruce C, Martin Ian D, Sutherland Celine, Weber Jean-Philippe, Dumas Pierre, Nieboer Evert
Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Sci Total Environ. 2008 Apr 15;393(2-3):291-8. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.01.022. Epub 2008 Feb 12.
The use of lead shotshell to hunt water birds has been associated with lead-contamination in game meat. However, evidence illustrating that lead shotshell is a source of lead exposure in subsistence hunting groups cannot be deemed definitive. This study seeks to determine whether lead shotshell constitutes a source of lead exposure using lead isotope ratios. We examined stable lead isotope ratios for lichens, lead shotshell and bullets, and blood from residents of Fort Albany and Kashechewan First Nations, and the City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and regression analyses. ANOVA of isotope ratios for blood revealed significant differences with respect to location, but not sex. Hamilton differed from both Kashechewan and Fort Albany; however, the First Nations did not differ from each other. ANOVA of the isotope ratios for lead ammunition and lichens revealed no significant differences between lichen groups (north and south) and for the lead ammunition sources (pellets and bullets). A plot of (206)Pb/(204)Pb and (206)Pb/(207)Pb values illustrated that lichens and lead ammunition were distinct groupings and only the 95% confidence ellipse of the First Nations group overlapped that of lead ammunition. In addition, partial correlations between blood-lead levels (adjusted for age) and isotope ratios revealed significant (p<0.05) positive correlations for (206)Pb/(204)Pb and (206)Pb/(207)Pb, and a significant negative correlation for (208)Pb/(206)Pb, as predicted if leaded ammunition were the source of lead exposure. In conclusion, lead ammunition was identified as a source of lead exposure for First Nations people; however, the isotope ratios for lead shotshell pellets and bullets were indistinguishable. Thus, lead-contaminated meat from game harvested with lead bullets may also be contributing to the lead body burden.
使用铅弹猎捕水鸟与猎物肉中的铅污染有关。然而，关于铅弹是自给狩猎群体铅暴露源的证据尚不能被视为确凿无疑。本研究旨在利用铅同位素比率确定铅弹是否构成铅暴露源。我们检测了加拿大安大略省阿尔巴尼堡和卡谢chewan第一民族以及汉密尔顿市居民的地衣、铅弹和子弹以及血液中的稳定铅同位素比率。数据采用方差分析和回归分析进行分析。血液同位素比率的方差分析显示，不同地点存在显著差异，但性别之间无显著差异。汉密尔顿与卡谢chewan和阿尔巴尼堡均不同；然而，两个第一民族之间并无差异。铅弹药和地衣同位素比率的方差分析显示，地衣组（北部和南部）以及铅弹药来源（铅丸和子弹）之间无显著差异。(206)Pb/(204)Pb和(206)Pb/(207)Pb值的绘图表明，地衣和铅弹药是不同的分组，只有第一民族组的95%置信椭圆与铅弹药的置信椭圆重叠。此外，血铅水平（按年龄调整）与同位素比率之间的偏相关显示，(206)Pb/(204)Pb和(206)Pb/(207)Pb存在显著正相关（p<0.05），(208)Pb/(206)Pb存在显著负相关，正如如果含铅弹药是铅暴露源所预测的那样。总之，铅弹药被确定为第一民族人群的铅暴露源；然而，铅弹丸和子弹的同位素比率无法区分。因此，用铅弹猎杀的猎物中受铅污染的肉也可能导致人体铅负荷增加。
