Reducing Lead Ammunition Exposure: Educational Outreach and Harm Reduction Strategies for the Coharie Tribe and Indigenous Communities in North Carolina

Abstract

Millions hunt every year in the United States, and most hunters use lead ammunition, given its low cost and high availability. Although lead ammunition accounts for roughly 90% of the ammunition sold annually, it can have negative effects on the environment and communities. These risks are not evenly distributed—Indigenous communities, including the Coharie Tribe in North Carolina, hunt at higher rates than the general population and are thus disproportionately exposed to lead, while often receiving little information regarding risks. In partnership with the Great Coharie River Initiative, this project developed and evaluated a community-based lead ammunition outreach program. Interviews and surveys were used to better understand existing knowledge gaps and to create recommendations for other communities and Tribes implementing similar programs. Key recommendations include centering health messaging, organizing community-led programming, and advocating for harm reduction rather than mandatory transitions to lead-free ammunition.