I recently had a conversation with a tree hugger (we all know who they are), who made a bold statement which is blatantly not true. She uttered (sic) “Hunters and fishers pour more lead into the environment than every other use ever has.” One has to assume she meant from ammo and sinkers? The truth lies elsewhere.
Since the early 1920s, automobile manufacturers and gasoline refineries have produced nearly a billion metric tons of tetra ethyl of lead (TEL). Although banned from automobile fuel for several decades, it is still being used in airplane and racing fuels.
Globally, the number of deaths due to TEL have rivaled those lost to war! In fact, the deaths from TEL will continue for many years, as there are still measurable amounts of TEL in air samples from across the globe.
Perhaps as deadly is ethylene bromide. It was added to leaded fuel to keep lead from building up on cylinder walls. Thus both lead and bromine compounds were expelled out the exhaust of automobiles the world around. Incidentally, ethylene bromide was once used as a soil fumigant for agriculture, but has been banned for many years.
Putting this into perspective vis-s-vis shooting (and fishing) sports, the presents of lead alloys is in the environment (bullet lead, sinkers, etc.) is considerably safer than those from TEL. It should be noted, however, that lead alloys can still be environmentally unfriendly. For example, lead shot has been banned for many years with respect to bird hunting. The reason is simply that birds grind lead bird shot in their gullets into a form more easily digested. No hunter should have an issue with this restriction.
The end point is obvious. We need to be diligent in our efforts in making sure that misinformation about lead and its alloys is kept within truthful boundaries, and not let zealots reign supreme!
Since the early 1920s, automobile manufacturers and gasoline refineries have produced nearly a billion metric tons of tetra ethyl of lead (TEL). Although banned from automobile fuel for several decades, it is still being used in airplane and racing fuels.
Globally, the number of deaths due to TEL have rivaled those lost to war! In fact, the deaths from TEL will continue for many years, as there are still measurable amounts of TEL in air samples from across the globe.
Perhaps as deadly is ethylene bromide. It was added to leaded fuel to keep lead from building up on cylinder walls. Thus both lead and bromine compounds were expelled out the exhaust of automobiles the world around. Incidentally, ethylene bromide was once used as a soil fumigant for agriculture, but has been banned for many years.
Putting this into perspective vis-s-vis shooting (and fishing) sports, the presents of lead alloys is in the environment (bullet lead, sinkers, etc.) is considerably safer than those from TEL. It should be noted, however, that lead alloys can still be environmentally unfriendly. For example, lead shot has been banned for many years with respect to bird hunting. The reason is simply that birds grind lead bird shot in their gullets into a form more easily digested. No hunter should have an issue with this restriction.
The end point is obvious. We need to be diligent in our efforts in making sure that misinformation about lead and its alloys is kept within truthful boundaries, and not let zealots reign supreme!
. I am loving the H&N green pellets and they were shooting well (read not as good as JSB lead
) out of the S510 last week. Definitely not a 'be all do all' ammo but pests in the garden/meat for the freezer it is a good option. Ever drop a .177 pellet In the grass? Good luck finding it back! Small potatoes. 
Seriously. Let's tie ourselves to trucks, block roads, and spray paint people's property....um no Please don't! 
