Persistent lead poisoning of waterfowl in the Camargue (southern France) 10 years after the ban on the use of lead ammunition in wetlands

• DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70045
• Publication Date: 2025-04-15T14:45:07Z
• Authors: Arnaud Béchet; Anthony Olivier; François Cavallo; Lou Sauvajon; Jocelyn Champagnon; Pierre Defos du Rau; Jean‐Yves Mondain...
• Keywords: Ammunition; Lead (geology)

Abstract Lead pollution is a worldwide environmental and health issue causing persistent detrimental effects on humans wildlife. Despite having been identified as to waterfowl century ago, in France lead shotgun pellets for hunting were banned only 2006 wetlands. We used long‐term monitoring data from the Camargue (southern France) (1) assess local effectiveness of French regulation at reducing ingestion by (2) hunter compliance with regulation. 2187 gizzards 13 species collected 38 hunters over 20 seasons (1998 2017). In addition, 2008 2019, we systematically shell cases three communal wetland sites ratio indicating versus nontoxic shells estimate ban. Across 20‐year study period that spanned pre‐ post‐ban, harvested had mean pellet prevalence 12% across no significant reduction time. There was slow increase use shot after ban; continued be widely, suggesting inadequate policy enforcement. Because ban applied wetlands, have caught while fined. It still legal carry shells, favoring circumvention Our results support need complete both terrestrial hunting. A would facilitate enforcement favor compliance, eventually leading phase‐out production use.