What are some other unexpected, possible sources of lead?
Calcium Supplements
Calcium supplements that are derived from bone tissue have often been found to have high levels of lead. These include bone meal and microcrystalline hydroxyapatite complex.
On the label, look for MCHC or MCHA. Inorganic calcium from rocks, such as dolomite calcium, can also have lead contamination.18
Game Meat
When game is shot with lead bullets, the bullets break down into hundreds of tiny fragments that spread over a large area of the meat. A study found that 32% of packages of venison sampled contained fragments of lead.
The researchers fed venison with lead fragments to pigs and saw that the pigs’ blood lead levels elevated. These findings suggest that the lead in the fragments would likely also be absorbed by humans.19
Bone Broth and Collagen
Because lead builds up in bone tissue20 and collagen21 in humans and other animals, bone broth and collagen products have been concerns as possible sources of lead contamination. Cows are especially prone to lead accumulation.22
According to a 2013 study, one batch of organic chicken bone broth contains 9.5 and 7.01 mcg/L of lead.23 This study created quite a bit of attention and worry.
Note that these are different units. Above, I was talking about lead in terms of parts per million (mg/g). The bone broth study used mcg/L (aka μg/L), which is parts per billion (ppb).
To convert ppb to ppm, one must divide by 1000; therefore, 9.5 ppm = 0.0095 ppm. There is likely no safe amount of lead, but it is not possible to keep our total intake below a few ppb without eating or breathing.
The 2013 study claimed that bone broth was high in lead, yet the amounts they showed to be present are not considered to be significant. If you use bone broth, be especially careful about which cookware and utensils you use. Gelatin, as found in bone broth, has been shown to pull lead out of cookware and raise the risk of lead toxicity.24
What can you use instead?
I prefer clean versions of fiber, especially those with resistant starch, like the Reset Shake and Ultra Fiber. Combine either with chlorophyll from spinach or Daily Greens, and you’ll do a great job binding toxins and moving them out of your body without bringing more in.
P.S. You know how scientists use clean rooms and biohazard suits? They are common when dealing with dangerous infections or delicate electronics. Did you know that the modern clean room was initially created to test lead? It was created because there was so much lead everywhere (starting in the 1920’s) that machines could not get an accurate reading on the amounts of lead in a sample without requiring a controlled environment.