Not a recent problem

We begin with one of the earliest recorded warnings about lead.

Back in Ancient Rome lead was used widely, from jewellery to kitchenware. Archaeological studies reveal that Romans were exposed to dangerously high levels of this toxic metal.

Dioscorides, the renowned Greek physician serving in the Roman army, rightly observed that “Lead makes the mind give way”.

Some even argue that lead poisoning contributed to the fall of the Roman empire. The point is, this isn’t a new problem. People have been warning about its dangers since the first century.

Evidence mounts

Although the first reports on lead poisoning in pheasants emerged in 1876, it wasn’t until the 1950s and 60s that the full scale of it’s devastating impact on wetland birds and birds of prey really started to mount.

Among the pioneers who uncovered the shocking reality of lead poisoning in waterbirds was Martin Brown, pathologist for WWT. For decades, from the 1970s to the 2010s, he conducted autopsies on thousands of wetland birds revealing the terrible toll lead was taking on wildlife.

"People today are more aware of the impact of environmental health on wildlife, but at WWT, we’ve been studying it for decades. Since the 1950s, WWT has been monitoring wetland birds, and I spent 45 years conducting post-mortems on thousands of them. Sadly, my career began and ended the same way − seeing no reduction in lead poisoning despite voluntary bans and partial restrictions. Pochard, teal, migratory swans - lead shot affected them all."

"Seeing a lead-poisoned bird makes it painfully clear why lead shot should never be used. Many are emaciated, paralysed, and unable to walk. Swans, once pristine white, are left filthy and bloodstained from dragging themselves along the ground in their final struggle. Their deaths are slow, painful, and entirely preventable."

Key milestones:

1970 - Ban on new lead plumbing

1986 - Ban on lead in fishing weights

An inconvenient truth

By the 1990s, evidence was mounting – but so was the backlash. Professor Debbie Pain, who was WWT’s Director of Conservation from 2008 to 2017 had worked on this issue since her PhD research on lead shot in the 1980s. This proved to be part of a lifelong commitment to get the evidence of lead poisoning in birds acknowledged and acted upon.

Back in 1983, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution had already recommended replacing lead shot with non-toxic alternatives as soon as possible. The science was clear, yet progress was painfully slow.

Debbie edited the proceedings of a key international workshop on lead poisoning in waterfowl in Brussels in 1991, where the solution − switching to steel shot − was already well understood. Yet, decades later, there was still considerable resistance. These delays speak volumes about the strength of opposition to change.

When Debbie joined WWT as Director of Conservation in 2008, she knew tackling the lead issue had to be a priority. But WWT's research was frequently treated as an ‘inconvenient truth’ by detractors. The pushback followed a familiar pattern to the long struggle to remove lead from petrol − where science was denied, and attempts were made to undermine those advocating for change.

Despite personal and professional challenges, giving up was never an option for Debbie. Evidence of the environmental and human costs of continuing to use lead ammunition was simply too great.

Debbie continued to do research on lead poisoning after leaving WWT in 2018. She served on a group of scientists that provided independent advice to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency (EA) in their preparation of the proposal for lead ammunition restriction published in December 2024.

Key milestones:

1992 - Ban on lead in paint

1999 - Ban on lead in petrol

1999 - First partial ban on lead shot for England

2002, 2004, 2009 - Partial bans on lead shot for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively

2008 - Peregrine Fund conference in USA brings together the human and wildlife risks of lead for the first time

The personal price of change 

"Making change happen takes both persuasion and pressure," recalls Dr Ruth Cromie, former Head of Ecosystem Health at WWT, who played a key role in securing international resolutions to ban lead ammunition.

My early days at WWT, working with Martin and hearing the steady ‘plink’ of lead shot dropping onto the post-mortem bench, left no doubt in my mind − lead shot had to go. But convincing people from a different world to mine was never going to be easy."

"One moment I’ll never forget was using a mobile X-ray machine to show a gamekeeper that his pheasants were ingesting lead shot. I watched as realisation dawned − he was mentally tallying up the billions of toxic pellets scattered across the woods and fields where his birds fed. That kind of ‘seeing is believing’ moment is what I wish every shooter in the UK could experience. I’m pleased to say that particular shoot has gone lead free.

But persuasion alone isn’t enough. The continued use of lead is supported by industry and many with political power. Laws are what truly change behaviour. Securing global agreements brings real pressure on governments to act, but those wins come at a cost. I’ve often felt like a small player against the international gun lobby and ammunition manufacturers."

A stressful fight

"Hawaii might sound like a dream destination, but for me, it was the site of one of the most stressful weeks of my career at an IUCN World Conservation Congress trying to get a resolution adopted."

"The opposition was fierce, the forces against me felt insurmountable, and I wasn’t sure whom I could trust. My heart rate barely dropped below 100 bpm the entire week, but in the end, the resolution for a global phase out of lead ammunition was adopted. Meanwhile, my husband was learning to surf on Waikiki Beach.

Stress has been a constant companion in this fight. My colleagues Debbie, Julia, and I have been called all sorts of names. I have too many memories of long winter evenings in my Slimbridge office, adrenaline surging. But even in the darkest moments, the swans just outside my window, cooing softly as they settled in for the night, reminded me why this fight mattered. I’d like to think they knew I was doing it for them."

Key milestones:

2010 - First large-scale UK study shows lack of compliance with lead restrictions

2012 - WWT research shows current lead restrictions not stopping poisoning

2013 - European Scientists Consensus Statement on Risks from Lead Ammunition published

2014 - First of multiple resolutions on lead ammunition adopted at the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Future resolutions adopted in 2017, 2020, 2024

Momentum builds for a ban

As the 2010s came to a close, momentum was building for a ban on lead ammunition in both the UK and the EU, and the science becoming ever more crystal clear. But the finish line wasn’t yet in sight. Dr Julia Newth, Ecosystem Health and Social Dimensions Manager at WWT, remembers well the hoops that she had to jump through: 

"I came at this lead poisoning problem from studying threats to Bewick’s swans. Of all the complex threats they face on their long annual migrations there was something so grim and unnecessary about them arriving to the ‘sanctuary’ of the British countryside to find it covered in lead pellets." 

"Thinking back on my scientific career to date, turning the lab into a kitchen to cook up some meals and test levels of lead in traditional recipes must surely be the maddest."

Understanding hunters' perspectives

"This issue is all about people and through dialogue it’s been invaluable to hear hunters’ perspectives on the perceived barriers to using non-toxic ammunition. Through these conversations I’ve witnessed many ‘light bulb moments’ when hunters who use lead realise that the very thing that they’re releasing into the environment is the same toxic stuff that was banned from petrol, paint and pipes.

But there are real downsides to working on lead – a short piece on the TV talking about your science can result in personal complaint letters being written to your boss, or your CEO or your Chair of Council. Over time, I’ve had to develop a thick skin." 

"Over the years I’ve been heavily involved in the political processes. It’s been crucial to build partnerships across various sectors, including government, conservation, health, shooting and food retail, to support this campaign. It often feels like a David versus Goliath struggle, but it's been a tonic to know we're not fighting alone.

We’re not there yet – we still need public pressure to get this over the line, but it’s inspiring to think so many people are on the right side of history. One last push!" 

Key milestones:

2015 - European Chemicals Agency begins process to ban lead shot in wetlands across the EU under chemicals regulation REACH

2015 - Oxford University conference concludes banning lead ammunition in the UK is necessary and practical

2015 - UK Lead Ammunition Group report to UK Government that lead ammunition should be phased out

2018 - First of open letters from European Scientists on risks of lead ammunition, recommending restrictions on lead across the EU. Future letters were published in 2020 and 2023

2019 - Paper on perspectives of lead ammunition users published

The final countdown

At the turn of the 2020s two critical processes began in the UK and EU, with a ban on lead ammunition within their remit.

Mark Robinson, who joined WWT as Campaigns Manager in 2024, arrived to see the result of the last five decades of work, as the campaign to ban lead ammunition reaches its final stage:

"When I first learned about this campaign, I did wonder why it’s taken so long to secure a ban on such an obvious source of poisoning for people and wildlife. But from talking to those who’ve been in this fight for seemingly forever, it’s clear to see why.

Beyond the personal costs to those involved, I think organisationally WWT has been really brave on this one. There were obviously times when it might have been politically easier to step away, but we are seeing this one through – it’s too important for the wildlife we work to protect."

Now, in 2025, coinciding with the EU publishing its own proposal to ban lead ammunition, a recommendation from the Health and Safety Executive to ban lead ammunition in the UK has finally been placed on the Secretary of State Steve Reed’s desk. The decision now lies with him on whether to make lead ammunition history.  

Key milestones:

2020 - Process begins to assess wider restrictions on lead ammunition in Europe under EU Chemicals Regulations REACH

2021 - Parallel REACH process begins in the UK

2021 - Lead Ammunition All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) begins

2023 - EU REACH wetland ban on lead shot comes into force

2024 - UK REACH process concludes with recommendations to restrict lead ammunition across Great Britain