Game Killed By lead Bullets isa concern,study says
North Dakota health officials recommend that pregnant women and young children avoid eating meat from wild game killed with lead bullets. The recommendation is based on a study released last week that examined the lead levels in the blood of more than 700 state residents. Those who ate wild game killed with lead bullets appeared to have higher lead levels than those who ate little or no wild game. The elevated lead levels were not considered dangerous, but North Dakota says pregnant women and children younger than 6 should avoid eating venison harvested using lead bullets. Those groups are considered most at risk from lead poisoning, which can cause learning problems and convulsions, and in severe cases can lead to brain damage and death. The study, conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state health department, is the first to connect lead traces in game with higher lead levels in the blood of game eaters, said Dr. Stephen Pickard, a CDC epidemiologist who works with the state health department. A separate study by Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources previously found that fragments from lead bullets spread as far as 18 inches away from the wound. "Nobody was in trouble from the lead levels," Pickard said. However, "the effect was small but large enough to be a concern." Pickard said the study found "the more recent the consumption of wild game harvested with lead bullets, the higher the level of lead in the blood." Officials in North Dakota and other states have warned about eating venison killed with lead ammunition since the spring, when a physician conducting tests using a CT scanner found lead in samples of donated deer meat.
Check it out
Experience a bitof the scouting life
The Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, which is part of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, is hosting a free Scout it Out event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday so participants can learn about the activities of the Boy and Girl scouts. The scouts will demonstrate skills such as cooking in a cardboard box, climbing a rope bridge and orienteering. For information, call (727) 893-7326.
Anglers lookingto stockpile food
Radio personalities and local fishing captains Bill Miller and Mel Berman will host a Fishing for Hope food drive at the Metropolitan Ministries (2002 N Florida Ave., Tampa) Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The items donated will be loaded into a 23-foot Dorado boat parked on site. For more information, call (813) 209-1000.
Boat show docks at theater
The St. Petersburg Boat Show and Strictly Sail will be Dec. 4-7 at the Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin and Albert Whitted Park in St. Petersburg. There will be hundreds of types of boats and sailboats, as well as accessories and merchandise. There will also be free fishing clinics for kids, an introduction to sailing program and a party Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. For times and ticket prices, go to www.showmanagement.com.
Rodney Page, Times staff writer
Tide adjustments
The charts show the rise and fall of tides measured in feet and plots the tides on a one-week timeline. Times and depth may vary depending on weather conditions. You can compute the tides from these adjustments:
News
