Lead is non magnetic Duck Strangler and the the brass loops as well unfortunatly.
Big potential for some UK Co. to follow the bio-degradable or eco- friendly sinker route i`ll dig out some piccies from those US sites.

Bullet Weights Ultra Steel 2000 in egg sinker form(biodegradeable)

Big Ten Ceramic sinker in slip sinker form (non toxic)

Zincer Products die cast zinc (biodegradeable)

Safecasters granite sinkers (non toxic)

Seems like we're all in agreement on this one for a change.

Anyone know either of the Korda "anglers" in question for their side of the tale?

I feel so strongly about this I`m happy to front an `anti lead discharge` campaign against Korda.

If people are in agreement I will write a strongly worded, professional letter and submit it on here for discussion. We can then send copies to Crafty and Korda explaining the irresponsiblity of these thinly veiled marketing ploys.

This has the potential of turning the PETAs fence sitters even further against us and providing more ammunition in their campaigns.

This has to be stopped, plain and simple.

They'll soon change their minds if we stopped buying them.
I'm sure there a cheaper products which are just as good out there.
Power to the wallet!
Typical disregard to the fish and the water by "high profile" anglers IMHO.
It seems to me that being "High Profile" and "Not giving a [censored]" seem to go hand in hand.
Prob why I don't catch as many as I could. Because I care about other people's fising and the lake and it's inhabitants.

One US site i`ve just come across claims that lead is 40 times more toxic than cyanide
I find this hard to believe,any experts on toxicology out there???

I dont think thats true at all.

My understanding is that cyanide is 98%+ fatal even in small doses. Its an asphyxiant in that it removes oxygen from the body.

Lead on the other hand is toxic, as are many other metals, and it would require ingestion of significant quantities or over long periods of time.

The COSHH data for these is easily available over the web, but I dont think theres any doubt.

ie, 1 gram of cyanide will kill, 1 gram of lead wouldnt do too much harm.

Granted, lead used to cause scurvy etc, but most food containers was lead lined then, so the exposure was great.

Ive not bought a lead in nearly a year since starting to make my own,i do use korda clips but dont cut them down as they work as they are without doing so and loosing leads willy nilly.

Whoever lost all them leads should be made to swim out and retreive them,its just not on.

Kevin,

I've just found that weh page you refer to. It could be that because Lead would probably exist in its toxic form for multiple decades, whereas cyanide would most likely breakdown over a matter of years, that you might be able to show that the longer probable exposure time of lead might accumulate to a point whereby you could make a 40x claim. But its still dubious.

Some of the lead substitute weights were ceramic, which I wouldnt have thought would ever breakdown either. Whilst better than toxic lead, I still think there would be more eco-friendly weights around.

Something that would breakdown over a 1-2 year period maybe?

Maybe someone can produce a pre-drilled slow-dissolve 3 inch diameter trout pellet??

Good idea Chesire
I don't think either company will care though as there is a sucker round every corner and we have seen the attitude of the publishers on here before, which I am disgusted at and will never buy one of their mags again. Yet again greed rules!

I feel really sorry for those just entering carp angling as they really do believe all this hype.