Lead Poisoning Denialism?

Who on earth is in favor of lead poisoning?

Here's an email I sent to Marrett Grund, a MN DNR researcher who did a very interesting study of lead contamination of deer shot with a variety of different rifle, shotgun, and muzzleloader projectiles.  This work was an rapid response to a small study done in North Dakota (Cornatzer et al. 2007).  Grund and his team's work was originally posted at the MN DNR website in 2008 but their paper was finally published in the peer reviewed literature in 2010 (yes, peer reviewed science takes time).

Dear Dr. Grund,

A recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune about eagles being treated for lead poisoning at the U of M Raptor Center (Klein, 2011) inspired me to do some more reading, first on the web, and now in the academic literature. In the course of my research I found your paper (Grund et al. 2010). As a sport hunter and a regular consumer of venison I found it very interesting. I am also a graduate student at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota where my study of leadership and problem solving has led me to examine the nature of strongly held belief and its consequences.

The Star Tribune article has led to a heated discussion on the rec.guns usenet group. I'd like to think of myself as a responsible hunter and a critical thinker, so I'm embarrassed by the amount of denialism being heaped by laypersons upon the scientific data. In the minds of "lead poisoning denialists" it is obvious to that every attempt to limit human introduction of lead into the environment during hunting and fishing is simply a thinly veiled attempt to ban hunting or firearms - therefore they can discredit the data, minimize its importance, or ignore it altogether. While I suppose anti-hunting and anti-gun groups are happy for any bump in our road I don't subscribe to this conspiracy theory. Still, there are some hunters who are interested in learning more about the issue and may be receptive to making voluntary changes.

Your 2010 paper was oriented primarily toward assessing the risk of lead contamination of deer and deer-sized animal as applies to human consumption of venison. In that regard I have a question. Your research demonstrates that rinsing the body cavity of deer can spread lead to sites where the rifle shot did not originally deposit it. In the absence of data demonstrating any health or meat quality benefit from doing so, it is a procedure I intend to dispense with immediately. But even without rinsing fragments are sometimes found a surprising distance from the wound path. Do you suppose these are transported by the movement of the viscera while the deer expires, by manipulation during field dressing, or both? I am wondering if using disposable paper towels to wipe the body cavity distal to the point of entry and exit wounds toward the wound path might remove some of these errant fragments?

While the lead poisoning of scavengers was outside the scope of your study it occurs to me that your methodology might be modified to examine this related issue in greater detail. Given that many hunters will not voluntarily abandon conventional cup and core bullets containing lead it seems to me that "gutpiles" deserve more attention. Hunt et al. (2006) suggests that viscera can contain a large quantity of lead bullet fragments. This make good sense as the destruction of internal organs by expanding bullets and their fragments is a significant element of the killing mechanism, except in the case of CNS hits.

It seems to me that radiographs of viscera removed during field dressing of deer shot with the eight bullet types tested in your study (though it seems a waste of time, money, and sheep to look for lead fragments in animals shot with copper bullets) would help determine whether scavenger access to lead fragments might be reduced by the voluntary removal of offal from the field and its subsequent sequestration.

Likewise, radiographs of boned deer carcasses and discarded trim might demonstrate that it is better to bury these leftovers instead of tossing them into the woods behind the barn.

Finally, is there any literature you can refer me to that will help demonstrate the neutrality or biases of wildlife biologists engaged in the study of lead poisoning?

I appreciate your taking the time to read this long email from a layperson. My interest is genuine and based on a deep appreciation for the natural world and our place in it, both as hunters and as responsible citizens. If you become aware of any way in which a volunteer might help further a reasoned response to this issue I look forward to hearing from you.

References

Grund, M., Cornicelli, L., Carson, L., and Butler, E., (2010). Bullet fragmentation and lead deposition in white-tailed deer and domestic sheep. Human Wildlife Interactions 4(2):257–265, Fall 2010 retrieved from http://www.berrymaninstitute.org/journal/fall2010/fall2010_grund_etal.pdf

Hunt, W., Burnham, W., Parish, C., Burnham, K. Mutch, B., and Oaks, J. (2006). Bullet fragments in deer remains: implications for lead exposure in avian scavengers. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34(1): 167-170 retrieved from http://www.peregrinefund.org/pdfs/ResearchLibrary/Fragmentation%20data%20and%20radiographs.pdf

Klein, B. (2011) Enraptured at the U. Minneapolis Star Tribune February 2, 2011 retrieved from http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/115062634.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

[Note: the link from the Star Tribune article to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center is broken.  Click here for the connection.]

Other Resources

Ingestion of Lead from Spent Ammunition: Implications for Wildlife and Humans

Lead Bullet Risks - Wildlife and Humans

A Global Update of Lead Poisoning in Terrestrial Birds from Ammunition Sources

Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of Lead Bullet Fragments in Random Venison Packages Donated to the Community Action Food Centers of North Dakota

Non-Lead Rifle Ammunition

Evidence demonstrating the problem is overstated or the result of anti-hunting and anti-gun conspiracies...let me know.

UPDATED TO ADD:

Here's a statement from the National Shooting Sports Foundation about the hazards of lead in firearms ammunition.  Their bias is clearly stated in the opening paragraph.

Lead or Traditional Ammunition

The NSSF is fond of referring to the 2008 CDC North Dakota study which they say proves lead in wild game is not a health hazard.  If you read the study carefully you'll note that it suggests that consumption of wild game shot with lead projectiles accounts for as much as a third of the tested North Dakota residents' subclinical blood lead levels.

Let's Give it an A for Effort

B for execution...

Christine Lahti's 2001 My First Mister is a nice little film, filled with all the right ingredients - quirky characters protrayed by talented actors, interesting visuals, sharp writing, and a splash of magical realism - but it isn't quite as great as it might have been.  I can't tell if it tried too hard or not quite hard enough.  Leelee Sobieski does a very nice job with her role as a disaffected teenage Goth prone to cutting.  Albert Brooks plays his usual schmoo but gets his share of good lines.  Pauley Perrette of NCIS fame apparently had a small part, but I don't remember seeing her.  My First Mister is not consistently excellent, but it's gentleness and patience with its characters makes it worth a look.

The Woo Woo Dome?

ARCO Arena To Become Power Balance Pavilion...

I admit I'd never heard of the Maloof Sports & Entertainment Arco Arena - home court of the Sacramento Kings - before today, but now we are informed that Power Balance* has purchased the naming rights for something on the high side of $800,000 a year for five years.  I imagine selling $0.05 rubber bracelets to an amazingly gullible public for $29.95 a pop probably leaves them with piles of cash just lying around looking for something to do.

I wrote about this fraud last month.  Power Balance* relies on an old parlor trick called "applied kinesiology" to fool consumers into imagining that wearing a rubber bracelet containing a reflective hologram somehow increases their balance and flexibility.

They've already been called out by consumer watch dogs in Australia, but the rich - and rapidly growing richer - people at Power Balance USA* are "shocked, shocked I tell you!" to hear some people are skeptical of their claims.

The Power Balance USA* website says this: 

"Contrary to recent assertions in the Australian press, Power Balance has made no claims that our product does not perform. This is simply untrue. Apparently, some previous claims in our marketing ads in Australia were not up to ACCC standards. Changes were voluntarily made immediately, approved and the issues were believed to have been resolved. We were obviously surprised to see the recent press coming out of Australia followed by a class action law suit here in the United States." 

But the Corrective Advertisement on the Power Balance Australia* website says this: 

"In our advertising we stated that Power Balance wristbands improved your strength, balance and flexibility.

We admit that there is no credible scientific evidence that supports our claims and therefore we engaged in misleading conduct in breach of s52 of the Trade Practices Act 1974." 

Hmmn, their PR flack must have missed that year in grade school when the phrase "this is simply untrue" was explained.  Or maybe the attorney who approved the message got an A+ with a smiley face for his brilliant 5th grade essay titled "That Depends." 

You know, at first I cut the PB fraudsters some slack because they don't have a bodycount like the antivaxers, but now I'm not so sure.  The influence of the "Magic Rubber Bracelet Dome" will have on Sacramento area sports fans, young and old, is bound to add up. Entering this 17,000 seat monument to pseudoscience will be like a little holographic innoculation of woo into the minds of our young people, enticing them toward a lifetime of magical thinking. Imagine how many healthy meals will be skipped because mom or dad bought everyone magic bracelets? How many useful or inspiring books might have been purchased for California households at the rate of $30.00 per person?  How many registration fees for actually improving ones balance and flexibility by participating in school or club sports will have to be found somewhere else.

I'm not a sports guy so maybe someone can tell me if there's any other sports facility in the entire world named after a fraudulent product?

*Yes, I know I have not linked to the Power Balance sites in the US or Australia.  I don't want to contribute to their Google ranking, so if you visit them it will not be by clicking through the Eclectic Breakfast. 

UPDATED TO ADD:  I'm in a pissy mood today so I sent another message to PB 

"On your Power Balance USA website you have made the following statement: 

'Contrary to recent assertions in the Australian press, Power Balance has made no claims that our product does not perform. This is simply untrue. Apparently, some previous claims in our marketing ads in Australia were not up to ACCC standards. Changes were voluntarily made immediately, approved and the issues were believed to have been resolved. We were obviously surprised to see the recent press coming out of Australia followed by a class action law suit here in the United States.' 

From the Corrective Advertisement on your Power Balance Australian website: 

'In our advertising we stated that Power Balance wristbands improved your strength, balance and flexibility. 

We admit that there is no credible scientific evidence that supports our claims and therefore we engaged in misleading conduct in breach of s52 of the Trade Practices Act 1974.' 

Are you incapable of reading or comprehending your own websites? Do you expect people not to check both sites? What is going on?"

As of 8 February 2011 I am patiently waiting to hear back from them...tick tock, tick tock...five cents for you, $29.90 for them. 

SURPRISE, AND NOT... 

Today, 9 February 2011, I received not one but two replies from Power Balance USA.  The first was in response to my inquiry submitted a week or so ago.  The second was responding to yesterday's message.  Both replies were precisely the same form email containing a juicy mix of fallacies, lies, and obfuscation. I especially relished their complaint that the ACCC insisted on the "narrow criteria of randomized, double-blind scientific studies."  I'm pretty sure complaining to them or ranting about them accomplishes little, but their business model is based on fraud even more than woo and watching them drain the wallets of the gullible really grates on my nerves.  Anyway, here's what they had to say... 

"Hello Michael,

Thank you for writing us.

We understand your concerns regarding the ruling in Australia, and the articles circulating the different medias.

Here is our statement regarding the situation: 

Power Balance products work. The existing reports out there are fundamentally incorrect. Power Balance did not make any claims that our product does not perform.

We are committed to bringing our performance technologies to every athlete in the world from professional to amateur to recreational. Our community of believers continues to grow each week. While our previous claims in marketing ads are not up to Australia’s ACCC standards – we stand behind our products. The belief of thousands of consumers and athletes who wear our products are not wrong.

A preliminary study recently conducted on the product’s performance variables was commissioned and the findings have determined that the product does in fact provide a “statistically significant” result on the wearer’s performance. We are committed to further evaluating the product’s performance parameters so that we can continue to provide products that enhance the wearer’s lifestyle.

Numerous actual consumer testimonies supporting the wristbands’ performance were provided to the ACCC by Power Balance. Despite that, they requested Power Balance remove marketing claims until it could provide them with their narrow criteria of randomized, double-blind scientific studies that supports the use of those marketing phrases.

Power Balance voluntarily agreed to stop using those phrases. Power Balance believes and wants users to believe that we will do whatever it takes to appropriately, and with honor and integrity make our products available to every consumer in every market in the world.

In summary, we absolutely stand behind our products. There is no doubt in our minds, as well as thousands of consumers (be they professional athletes, trainers, weekend warriors, etc.), that our products work. To be clear, we did not make any statements referencing that we were a fraudulent company; a “scam”; the product is ineffective; or anything else similar to such statements in the media.

If you are not a US customer, please let us know the country from which you are inquiring, so we may direct you to the appropriate parties.

In regards to your request for a refund (US customers), we are happy to address your request in a timely manner. In order to complete this request we will need a receipt dated within 6 months from the date of purchase, from an authorized dealer, along with the product in order to process your refund.

If you would like to proceed with your request, please visit. After filling out the form located there, please use the click to print button in order to print out the form correctly. Along with the form you will need to send the product back to Power Balance for which you are requesting the refund for, as well as a copy of your proof of purchase dated within 6 months. These items are required to process the refund. Please send the requested items to:

Attn: Returns
20512 Crescent Bay
Suite 108
Lake Forest, CA 92630

We will process your request as quickly as possible on a first come, first serve basis.

Warmest regards."

Pandering and Posturing

What's up with the National Prayer Breakfast?

image from whitehouse.gov

Our republic was founded upon a constitution which explicitly specifies we be governed by secular institutions.  Since 1935 the (Christian) National Prayer Breakfast is organized each year by The Fellowship Foundation (variously known as The Foundation, The Fellowship, or The Family), a secretive evangelical organization with strong political ties and notorious influence inside the Beltway.  This is not an ecumenical gathering; it is not about prayer unless it is a Christian prayer.  This is not a government-sponsored event; it is a private gathering, but one our public servants dare not miss.  Jeff Sharlet has written extensively on the shadowy organization that organizes this gathering.  If his article "Jesus Plus Nothing: Undercover Among America's Secret Theocrats" doesn't scare the hell out of you I'm not sure what will.  If his early reporting makes you want to pray for the future of our republic then his recent book, The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, comes highly recommended.  Other than that articles about the The Family are scarce.  Much as I'd like to refer you to a source of information published by the Fellowship Foundation, the Foundation, the Fellowship, the Family does not seem to operate a website.

The Family always invites a surprise speaker to the breakfast.  Mark Kelly, shuttle astronaut and husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was the special guest today.  Discussing his wife's horrible injury at hands of a deranged gunman he said "maybe this event, this terrible event, maybe it was fate."  Maybe he should have admitted he was a fish out of water, a military officer and scientist summoned to a politically-charged Christian influence peddling session and evangelical litmus test.  President Obama, who by his own accounts was not a religious man until he became involved in politics, said "We are with them for the long haul and God is with them for the long haul."  Too bad their almighty God couldn't have reflected his long term interest in Ms. Gifford by arranging a mental health intervention for the shooter Jared Loughner, or even for Loughner to be struck by truck in a crosswalk, or for his pistol to jam, or for him simply to miss.  Nope, God's mysterious ways in Tucson required six dead, 14 wounded, and bullet shot through Gabrielle Gifford's head for the Lord almighty to forward His agenda.  The bigger mystery is why Christians think this way.

The Revolution Will Be Televised

And Tweeted and YouTubed in real time...

image from http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/

I'm old enough to remember when typewriters were licensed, printing presses were seized, and newspapers shuttered by despotic regimes because that was how unauthorized information was distributed, from one person to another, on sheets of paper.

Then came telephones, fax machines, dial up bulletin boards, internet, satellite television, web, cellphones, text messaging, blogs, and other tech I'm too much a Baby Boomer to have even heard of yet, let alone appreciate the power of.

Where repressive regimes once clung to power with cavalry, secret police, fire hoses, dogs, tear gas, rubber bullets, rifle bullets, or tanks, now they also monitor Facebook pages, shut down the internet, hack their opponents' servers, and turn off cell phone service. 

Tweets from teenagers while they're being beaten by government-sponsored goons.  Cellphone video of despotic thuggery as it happens.  These evocative stories and brutal images are delivered to the world by sophisticated yet affordable technology that is even more powerful because it is ubiquitous, uncensored, unedited, and unfiltered.

One hopes the popular revolution in Egypt is allowed to become peaceful again.  Mubarek's sad tactics were old when telephones had dials and computer screens were green.  Time for Hosni to retire in undeserved luxury and let the people he was supposed to serve have their shot at liberty.  Yes, liberty - the special freedom to act that stops where another person's rights begin.  Where people are free to express themselves without fear of brutality, because the rule of law has been preserved and protected.  Where hospitals, merchants, and museums need not fear looting because order is maintained by benevolent actors.  Unless Mubarek calls off his goons, and their camels, and their Molotovs, the Army will be faced with a choice - protect their countrymen or prop up Mubarek.  They have shown great restraint so far.  Now is the time for the Egyptian Army to demonstrate professional resolve, a love of liberty, and a commitment to human dignity.