2airishuman
Contributor
I have never heard of any other hunting that requires no using lead shot. Do you have an example, or is this smoke?
Here's a list. Generally it's dual-use areas that combine waterfowl production with other types of hunting. The list is going to grow, because regulators are increasingly coming to the conclusion that there are effective, reasonably priced alternative products and so there is no public policy reason not to broaden the regulations. There is also overreach going on with enforcement, so if you're e.g. out shooting grouse in an area where there are also woodcock, you may get ticketed, because woodcock are waterfowl and it is impossible to prove that you weren't hunting them, even though no rational person would ever shoot a woodcock because they are bony and taste terrible.
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Again, pick a real problem, like plastic, industrial release of hazardous chemicals, CO2, oil release, invasive remediation etc. See above.
I think the overall societal effects from the cumulative exposure of thousands of people to lead -- occupationally or during dives -- is perhaps greater than the hazards to bodies of water being dived. There is also a disposal problem, because things like weight pouches are unlikely to be recycled at the end of someone's period of activity in the hobby, due to the lack of convenient means of getting small amounts of lead into the recycling chain.