Host: The Japanese Society of Toxicology
Name : The 51st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Toxicology
Date : July 03, 2024 - July 05, 2024
Lead contamination of birds by lead bullets and fishing sinker is now a worldwide problem. In Japan, around 1997, a series of cases of poisoning by ingestion of lead bullets, which are used in large quantities for deer hunting, etc., were reported in raptors such as white-tailed eagles in Hokkaido. As a result, regulations on lead bullets were initiated throughout Hokkaido in 2000, and currently, in addition to the use of lead bullets, the possession of lead bullets for the purpose of hunting Ezo sika deer is prohibited. However, there is still no end to the outbreaks of lead poisoning in Steller's sea eagles and white-tailed sea eagles. Meanwhile, the number of deer, wild boars, and others that cause damage to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, ecosystems, and living environments is increasing in Japan. Currently, the number of Japanese sika deer captured in Honshu alone amounts to approximately 600,000, a four-fold increase over the past 15 years. Therefore, the number of deer hunted with lead bullets is on the increase in Honshu and southwards. According to previous surveys, low concentrations of lead, which do not show symptoms of lead poisoning, have already been detected in the blood of approximately 10% of injured or sick birds of prey south of Honshu. This symposium will clarify what is happening now in Japan and the actual situation of lead poisoning and contamination of birds.
