Impact
Lead weights have a wide-ranging, long-lasting impact on the environment and, in turn, on the humans that rely on those resources. Understanding the impact that using lead fishing weights in the Chattahoochee River and Lake Lanier can have is key to taking the first step away from these items.
01
Lead in Humans
Lead exposure in humans reduces IQ and causes learning disabilities in children, damages the nervous system leading to memory loss, headaches, and irritability, and raises blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease.
02
Lead in the Animals
Lead contamination in water can poison animals that rely on it, causing severe health issues and often death, particularly in species that ingest lead particles or contaminated prey. This disrupts the food chain and reduces biodiversity.
03
Impact on Water Quality
Lead contamination significantly degrades water quality by persisting in aquatic environments, making water unsafe for both wildlife and human consumption, and disrupting the health of entire ecosystems. This contamination affects the growth, reproduction, and survival of aquatic organisms, leading to long-term ecological damage.
04
How to Start Change
To begin change, signing the petition to ban lead fishing weights demonstrates your support for environmental preservation. Additionally, you can contribute further by volunteering your time and efforts to raise awareness and advocate for safer alternatives in local communities and beyond.
