Do the Lead and Phthalates in Baits Concern You?

[Tony Christian]

So many of the baits I purchase say that they may cause cancer and reproductive harm. I'm not paranoid, but sometimes I do wonder if biting my trailers in half and always touching lead will get to me someday. Do you find it concerning sometimes?

[MN Fisher]

It's a California initiative that makes those labels be necessary...even if the levels are lower than what the EPA says is dangerous, California law says that ANY amount requires the labeling. To save costs, the companies just put the label on everything so they don't have to have two sets - one for Cali, one for the rest of us,

[RRocket]

1 hour ago, Tony Christian said:

So many of the baits I purchase say that they may cause cancer and reproductive harm. I'm not paranoid, but sometimes I do wonder if biting my trailers in half and always touching lead will get to me someday. Do you find it concerning sometimes?

I believe there are other things we do habitually that pose a far greater threat.

 

For example, getting a water borne illness from putting your bait in your mouth poses a far greater threat. Ditto getting said water in an open wound, however minor. Perhaps West Nile disease from a mosquito bite? Lyme disease from a tick bite?

 

And my father is dying from skin cancer that was smaller in size than a dime. He fished 3-5 days a week, so I'd imagine that's how he got it. I should do a PSA with the photos of where it started vs where he is now. I think more people would wear sun screen.

 

Your worries would be far down the list for me.

 

However, you need to do what you think is best for you and yours and please don't take my reply as a form of gaslighting.

 

Was not my intention.

[Jig Man]

I’ve been pouring lead jigs probably since before you were born.  I have seen no ill effects.  In fact I need to go pour some Ned and Shaky heads before the next trip.

[casts_by_fly]

not one bit.  The prop 65 warnings trigger levels for most chemicals of concern are below the detectable limits of the testing we currently have.  Ergo, if you know that its present in some level in your widget, you can't prove that its below the prop 65 labelling level thus you have to label it.

 

Obviously things like lead weights are clearly made of the concerned chemical.  And I wouldn't want to eat lead.  Maybe even biting splitshot with my teeth was a bad choice, if more convenient than grabbing pliers.  But general handling gives me no concerns for anything that is put out as a consumer product.

[GaryH]

10 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

I’ve been pouring lead jigs probably since before you were born.  I have seen no ill effects.  In fact I need to go pour some Ned and Shaky heads before the next trip.

Hmm so your third ear & second nose is no ill effects. 😂😂😂

[Jig Man]

3 hours ago, GaryH said:

Hmm so your third ear & second nose is no ill effects. 😂😂😂

None but I do see more since I got the third eye.

[T-Billy]

Nope. Total non issue. The only time lead scares me is when the wife is holding a firearm. 

[WRB]

Brass with minute lead content must be labeled in our crazy law. 

Skin contact with lead isn’t a major problem digesting lead is so avoid eating it.

Like most bass anglers my age have handled lead for decades without ill affects.

Tom

[Catt]

56 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Nope. Total non issue. The only time lead scares me is when the wife is holding a firearm. 

 

As long as mine is aiming at me I'm safe 😁

 

6 hours ago, Tony Christian said:

So many of the baits I purchase say that they may cause cancer and reproductive harm.

 

Don't eat em!

 

And don't read the labels of what you eat & drink.

[T-Billy]

1 minute ago, Catt said:

As long as mine is aiming at me I'm safe 😁

🤣 You and me both brother!!! I tried teaching my wife to shoot. It didn't go well. Put a gun in her hand, and she starts shaking like a dog trying to pass a pine cone. 😂 She's pretty good at catching fish though. Best fish'n buddy I've ever had.

[gim]

6 hours ago, Tony Christian said:

but sometimes I do wonder if biting my trailers in half and always touching lead will get to me someday.

 

Why are you biting trailers in half?  There's a simple solution here, just stop doing it.  If you need a trailer in half, rip it or cut with the appropriate tool.  And wash your hands if you think there is lead residue on them.

 

Simple solutions to simple problems.

[Catt]

Kinda exaggerated @T-Billy!

 

Below is her qualifying 18 rounds for her concealed carry.

 

[GaryH]

4 minutes ago, Catt said:

Kinda exaggerated @T-Billy!

 

Below is her qualifying 18 rounds for her concealed carry.

 

When you talk to her it better be Yes ma’am or No ma’am. And don’t forget You’re right ma’am 

[Susky River Rat]

I weld for a living. Lead is the least of my worries.

[Bankc]

I think it should concern you, and the rest of us.  But that concern should also be kept in check.  We're constantly bombarded by an endless stream of pollutions from all aspects of life.  So it's not a good idea to get too worked up about the small stuff.  Then again, with all of the pollution we're exposed to, all of that small stuff definitely adds up and will cause big problems for many of us, if not most of us, before we're done here.  

That being said, pick your battles.  If biting your soft plastics worry you, then get some scissors.  If touching lead worries you, then switch to tungsten.  There are things you can do to alleviate those worries without making major lifestyle changes.  But realistically speaking, you'll probably notice no long term effects in your life either way, whether you make those changes or not.  

There are bigger sources of pollution that you're exposed to on a daily basis that might warrant greater concern.  And some of those might have solutions, or at least mitigation measures to consider, and for others there won't be anything that you can do about it.  We should all be aware of this stuff and do what we can to minimize our exposure within reason.  But we should also all be aware that this stuff is an inevitable consequence of modern life, and there's just no way around that.  

 

Also, keep in mind that the number one factor that determines who gets cancer and who doesn't is genetics.  So while it's still a good idea to not stack that deck further against you during your lifetime with bad decisions, you also have to realize that you're going to ultimately play the hand you were dealt before you were even born.  

[Bankbeater]

Nope. 

[waymont]

Not an issue unless you’re putting lead jigs in your mouth. Some people do this to moisten them to insert them into soft baits.

[TnRiver46]

Negative 

[Tennessee Boy]

Everything causes cancer in California.  That’s why I never go there.

[MAN]

Worried....Nope not at all.   I miss the taste of splitshots and .177cal pellets.   

[PaulVE64]

When I tell my foe to "Eat my  Lead" I want it to be a real threat.

[volzfan59]

I don't worry about it what so ever, but then again I don't really worry about anything. What happens, happens

[GreenPig]

I'm much more concerned with the brain eating amoeba in our Georgia waters as my jon boat is a wet ride on my preferred windy days. We also have the terrible flex eating bacteria in our lakes that I think about when my thumb is all chewed up from lipping fish.

Concern of lead is way way down the list.

[RRocket]

3 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

I'm much more concerned with the brain eating amoeba in our Georgia waters as my jon boat is a wet ride on my preferred windy days. We also have the terrible flex eating bacteria in our lakes that I think about when my thumb is all chewed up from lipping fish.

Concern of lead is way way down the list.

Indeed.

 

Those are my worries as well. 

 

Here's an anecdotal story:

 

https://theminimalistfisherman.com/2-warnings-for-all-fishermen-im-in-severe-pain-right-now/