The influence of environmental conditions on lead transfer from spent gunshot to sediments and water: Other routes for Pb poisoning

- Sediment type and water pH visibly influenced Pb transfer to water and sediments.
- Simulated wind conditions were a significant factor more often in gravel sediments.
- The highest deposit to water and sediments occurred in acidic mud microcosms.
- The relative higher deposits to water and sediments occurred in gravel microcosms.
- Pellet erosion did not differ much between sediment types in microcosms.

Lead (Pb) from spent gunshot and fishing sinkers is recognized as the main source of Pb poisoning among waterfowl. It is also suspected to directly pollute water and sediments, but no appropriate, comprehensive evaluation of this issue has so far been carried out. An experiment on Pb pellets in microcosms (n = 160) with two sediment types (mud and gravel), three water pH values (4, 7 and 9) and two wind levels (wind and windless simulation) was therefore run. Substantial differences in Pb transfer (measured with ICP-OES) between sediment types and pH levels of water were observed. Simulated wind conditions were a significant factor only for some variables and circumstances. The strongest Pb deposit to water and sediments occurred in mud microcosms with water of pH value of 4. Median pellet erosion during the experiment differed little between sediment types. The experiment revealed that Pb transfer from spent gunshot to the environment occurs only in specific environmental conditions.

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