Efforts to ban lead ammunition: a comparison between Europe and the United States

The human health impacts of lead have been known for millennia but the environmental ammunition only received attention during past 100 years. To a large extent United States provided leadership in identifying and researching these effects then spearheading campaigns to transition away from shotgun waterfowl hunting. However, appetite further federal has largely stalled U.S. except apparently limited action linked individual states, charismatic species, specific sites. Europe, on other hand, though generally rather late table with regard hunting, is now pushing ahead several initiatives that are likely see substantial partial, if not total, restrictions use all (for shotguns rifles) within 5 10 We discuss policy drivers behind moves, summarize key attitudes perceived constraints transition, provide (cautious) timetables recommendations future changes. Our discussion will include comparisons between efforts those Europe.