European Commission takes measures to protect wildlife from effects of lead in the environment

Article summary

The European Commission has announced that it has taken firm measures to protect wildlife that may be compromised from the negative effects of lead in the environment. Lead’s toxicity levels contaminate soil and water when it is released into the environment. 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes of lead are expelled into wetlands from gunshots. The Commission has therefore adopted the EU’s chemicals regulation framework, which intends to restrict the use of gunshot in or around wetlands, which it is hoped will subsequently mitigate the level of lead pollution in the environment, as well as the yearly deaths of around 1 million waterbirds from lead poisoning. Alternatives, such as steel gunshots are suggested, as they are safer for the environment and are priced the same as lead gunshots. The measures were approved from 25 January 2021 and aims to ‘enhance the effectiveness of national legislation limiting the use of lead gunshots in wetlands...