Devoid of teeth, most water birds keep grit, quartz and other small stones in their muscular gizzard with which to grind the food. At the lake shores and river banks where they feed,they can mistake lead shots and sinkers for small stones and swallow them. The lead is dissolved by gastric juice and absorbed, a recipe for lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning is a dreadful disease. It damages all internal organs,causing intensive diarrhea, anemia, and jaundice, hampering respiration, paralyzing the nervous system, and finally leading to death.

Near Lake Suwa and the Sai River in Toyoshina Town, ten swans and three ducks were found dead or were treated due to lead poisoning in the six-year period between 1990 and 1996. These birds were discovered where and when swans were under close surveillance for protection. Considering that dying birds normally hide in bushes and fall prey to carnivores, the real number of deaths can be far greater than the above numbers lead us to believe.

In Lake Miyajimanuma in Bihoro, Hokkaido, 132 swans and ducks were found poisoned by lead during the two years of 1989 and 1990.

In the winter of 1991-1992, the Environment Agency conducted a small field survey, in which 37 ducks were caught and examined. Six of them were found having lead shots in the gizzard, and four having above tolerable level of lead accumulation in the liver. These facts show that lead contamination is alarmingly widespread. Though well aware of the need for regulation, the Environment Agency has so far unveiled no effective regulatory measures.

In UK, lead sinkers have been banned since 1987. In the USA , lead shot shave been prohibited since the hunting season of 1991-1992. Canada ,　Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have begun regulating the use of lead.

We earnestly request the Government of Japan to effect a prompt halt to
the use of lead that victimizes the waterfowl.