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Transition to Non-toxic Gunshot Use in Olympic Shooting: Policy Implications for IOC and UNEP in Resolving an Environmental Problem

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Abstract

Olympic shooters discharge, annually, thousands of tons of lead shot which pose toxic risks to animals and may pollute both surface and ground waters. Non-toxic steel shot is an acceptable and effective substitute, but International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) rules prevent its adoption. The present policy and rules of the ISSF on lead shot use contravene the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter position on environmental protection. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a formal Olympic partner on environmental protection, has no stated policy on contamination from lead ammunition, despite having declared lead a Priority Area for remedial action, and is pressing to remove lead from the global human environment. The IOC Sport and Environment Commission and UNEP could examine the continued use of lead shot ammunition and advise the IOC Executive Board on appropriate changes in policy and rules that could halt the massive lead shot contamination of shooting range environments world-wide.

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Notes

  1. The number of qualifiers shooting at the 2012 Olympic Games were: Mens’ Double Trap 24, Mens’ Trap 34, Mens’ Skeet 36, Womens’ Trap 22, Womens’ Skeet 17.

  2. Based on one cartridge containing 24.5 g of lead shot and 1000 cartridges fired per week for 52 weeks.

  3. Correspondence between the President and Secretary General of the UIT and the President of the IOC, December 4, 1993. Correspondence is on file with V.G. Thomas, and is available on request.

  4. Correspondence from J. Samaranch to authors, August 10, 1999, on file with V.G. Thomas, and is available on request.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was produced with the personal funding of the authors. Neither author is supported by, or affiliated with, any ammunition or arms manufacturer. We are grateful to the reviewers for their constructive comments on the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrative Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Vernon George Thomas

  2. Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain

    Raimon Guitart

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  1. Vernon George Thomas
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  2. Raimon Guitart
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Correspondence to Vernon George Thomas.

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Thomas, V.G., Guitart, R. Transition to Non-toxic Gunshot Use in Olympic Shooting: Policy Implications for IOC and UNEP in Resolving an Environmental Problem. AMBIO 42, 746–754 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-013-0393-7

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