05-02-2012, 05:33 PM
I read the article and there were 4 samples of the 152 collected that showed lead concentrations above 10 ug/g. Although it would be hard to translate lead concentrations in feathers to blood concentrations, the acceptable limit of lead in the blood of children in the US is 10ug/dl.
So I am not sure that this reference is all that alarming.
However, thank you CBronson for the link because I did ask for data. There is a long list of references in that paper for other work in the area of lead poisoning in raptors.
I am still unsure how they distinguish between lead ingested (which clears in 13 days) from lead in the atmosphere.
I don't think there is any fabrication going on, I just think it is hard to draw precise correlations between lead ingestion and condor mortality. Certainly not enough to ban ammunition.
So I am not sure that this reference is all that alarming.
However, thank you CBronson for the link because I did ask for data. There is a long list of references in that paper for other work in the area of lead poisoning in raptors.
I am still unsure how they distinguish between lead ingested (which clears in 13 days) from lead in the atmosphere.
I don't think there is any fabrication going on, I just think it is hard to draw precise correlations between lead ingestion and condor mortality. Certainly not enough to ban ammunition.