Use of Lead Divides Fairfield Co. Fishermen, Environmentalists

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has nothing against heavy metal and that has some environmentalists going plumb angry.

Last August, more than 70 environmental groups petitioned the EPA under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act to ban the manufacture, use and processing of lead in fishing sinkers, shot and bullets. The EPA denied the ban. As such, lead sinkers and jigs are here to stay.

Yet lead remains a highly toxic substance. Historians suspect that lead's use in water pipes, cosmetics, pottery and food as a major reason the Roman Empire collapsed. Now it's killing scores of birds and fish, say environmentalists.

"Lead is being pumped into the environment by hunters and left in the environment by the fishing industry. It's literally killing millions of birds," said Robert Johns, with the American Bird Conservancy in Washington, DC.

Johns thought it ironic that the EPA announced its denial during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

Groups such as these argued that spent lead from ammunition and lost fishing tackle poisons and kills wildlife, and threatens public health.

Wildlife in Crisis, a Weston-based nonprofit, cares for more than 5,000 wounded, ill and orphaned wild animals each year. The group also opposed the EPA decision.

"Sadly we do get many birds each year who have been shot with lead shot and those who have ingested led fishing lures," said Dara Reid,  the center's director. "We just recently released a Canada Goose that had been shot with lead shot and had severe neurological problems as a result. After six months of care at WIC he finally regained use of his legs and was fit for release.

"And we had a swan that we were able to release recently as well who had ingested a lead fishing lure, he also spent many months at WIC recovering from neurological problems associated with lead exposure," she continued. "Each year we receive dozens of birds like this swan and goose suffering from lead poisoning."

According to the EPA, petitioners didn't prove the ban was needed to protect "against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, as required by the Toxic Substances Control Act," the federal agency said in a letter addressing the petitioners' concerns. The letter also said because some federal and state lands already prohibit lead fishing gear and shot, the ban isn't necessary.

"Honestly lead isn't the safest thing out there, but people have been using lead before Jesus lost his sandals," said Jimmy Orefice, owner of Bridgeport's Jimmy O's Bait and Tackle.

Moreover, Orefice, who fishes all along the Fairfield County coast said a ban wouldn't only affect Long Island Sound, but the entire Atlantic coastline. That would seriously impact already struggling fishermen, he said.

"The Sound is really cleaning up," said the Fairfield resident. "I'm an environmentalist, and anything to keep the water clean, but if there was a ban, that's a big blanket you're talking about."

A ban would mean fishermen would need to switch out much of the gear for pricier goods, Orefice said.

The EPA said it saw no need for a ban since non-lead alternatives are increasingly available in the marketplace. Many area fly fishermen already use other materials.

"The small amount of lead we use is negligible, so a ban would have had zero effect on our shop," said Scott Bennett, owner of in Darien. "The fly guys already tend to be a little more in tune with green alternatives."

Lead substitutes are more prevalent in fly-fishing because several state and national parks already ban lead, Bennett said. 

For example, in New York state, 464 environmental conservation officers and forest rangers are switching to non-toxic ammunition. And in New Hampshire, state law prohibits lead sinkers and jigs in all fresh water, including lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.

News of the EPA's decision pleased the Recreational Fishing Alliance.

"We're happy that EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and her staff have denied this lead ban petition, there was really no justification for it to begin with," said Jim Donofrio, executive director for RFA.  

Donofrio said a ban would've all but eliminated the opportunity for individual anglers to make their own bucktails, sinkers and jigs at home. He also said it would have forced fishermen to replace much of their current tackle collections.

According to the American Sportfishing Association, lead sinkers cost between six to 15 times as much as those made from other materials such as stainless steel, tin, tungsten, bismuth, copper and alloys of these metals, such as pewter or brass.

At Jimmy O's Bait and Tackle, a pack of lead split shot will sell for $1.49 compared with $3.49 for a non-lead pack.

"In bad economic times a ban would be a shocker," Orefice said. "If it would be the equivalent price it would be a different story. I would support a ban in a second."

In spite of the EPA's decision, environmentalists plan to push the issue.

"Certainly legal action is on the table," Johns said.

Johns' group cited nearly 500 peer-reviewed papers on lead's toxicity in wildlife to make their case.

According to several of the studies, lead causes numerous pathological effects on living organisms, from acute, paralytic poisoning and seizures to subtle, long-term mental impairment, miscarriage, neurological damage, and impotence. Even low levels of lead can impair biological functions.

Bald eagles who ingest lead white tail feathers and head feathers turn green, Johns said.

"It's just criminal to see what happens to a bald eagle," Johns said. "They just basically curl up and die."