~2000 BC  Environmental problems from lead mines first documented

~400 BC    Hippocrates accurately describes the symptoms of lead poisoning

476 AD      Roman Empire collapses; lead use in water pipes, cosmetics, pottery, and food suspected as major contributing factor, despite Roman knowledge of health hazards

1500s        Lead used as poison for assassinations in renaissance Europe

1621          First lead mining in New World colonies, in Virginia

1786          Ben Franklin deplores that nothing has been done to protect people from the "mischievous effect" of lead poisoning

1842          Lead poisoning first identified as a disease in wild birds

1870s        First reports of incidents of lead poisoning of waterfowl at hunting sites

1890s        First documented mortality of waterfowl due to lead shot, information on lead hazard to wildlife published in scientific literature and the press

1920s        Oil companies began adding tetraethyl lead to gasoline

1922          League of Nations bans interior lead paints

1930          Leading scientists report lead poisoning in waterfowl to be widespread

1959          Major scientific study identifies spent lead shot as source of exposure and widespread hazard for

waterfowl

1970          Clean Air Act passes – charges Environmental Protection Agency with identifying and setting standards for harmful pollutants, including lead

1970s        Concerns about lead toxicity from fishing weights for water birds published

1972          First nontoxic shot use requirements for limited areas in U.S.

1973          EPA initiates a phase-down of lead levels in motor vehicle gasoline to reduce health risks from lead emissions

1980          U.S. using 1.3 million tons of lead per year, or 5,221 grams of lead per American per annum, a rate of dependence on lead nearly ten times greater than ancient Romans

1980          Amount of lead in gasoline drops 50% from previous decade; average human blood-lead levels in U.S. correspondingly drop 50%, levels in children drop 37%

1980s        Numerous secondary lead poisoning cases documented in bald eagles

1985          Last wild California condors brought into captivity for emergency breeding program due to high risks birds face in the wild, particularly from lead poisoning

1986          Federal regulations initiated to phase out lead shot for waterfowl hunting

1986          Safe Drinking Water Act amended to require "lead-free" plumbing - EPA sets standards limiting lead concentrations in public water systems and pipes

1986          Britain bans use of most lead fishing sinkers to protect swans

1990          Clean Air Act amended to prohibit leaded gasoline in motor vehicles by 1995

1991          Lead shot banned for all waterfowl hunting in entire U.S.

1991          EPA issues regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act to limit the amount of lead in drinking water

1992          Studies published on hazards of lead fishing sinkers to loons

1992          Lead Exposure Reduction measures pass Congress, identifying dangerous levels of lead, publishing lead hazard information, and regulating residential renovation activities and federal facilities to abate and control lead paint

1994          EPA proposes nationwide ban on manufacture, import, processing, and distribution of lead fishing sinkers of a size hazardous to waterfowl – but the regulations are never ratified

1995          EPA issues regulations banning all lead in motor vehicle gasoline

1995          The use of lead solder in food cans is banned under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

1995          Percentage of U.S. children with elevated blood-lead levels has dropped from 88.2% in the 1970s to 4.4% by 1995

1996          Food and Drug Administration bans the use of lead foil caps on wine bottles

1997          Canada implements partial ban on small-sized lead fishing sinkers in national parks and national wildlife areas

1999          Canada issues ban on lead shot for hunting migratory game birds

1999          Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to expand lead-free fishing areas on national wildlife reserves, wilderness areas, and waterfowl sites – but never issues a final decision

2000          74 nations have implemented some sort of regulations on the use of lead shot, and 37 more nations are preparing legislation; only 4 countries have applied restrictions to the sale and use of lead fishing sinkers

2000          Scientific reports show significant reduction in lead exposure to waterfowl after implementation of 1991 lead shot ban

2000          Lead air pollution shown to have decreased 98% since 1970

2004          Conservation groups petition California to require non-lead ammunition for hunting in condor habitat

2006          Lawsuit filed against California for allowing lead ammunition to continue to poison California condors

2006          95% of all condors in Arizona found to have lead exposure; 70% of the Arizona flock must be taken into captivity and treated for lead poisoning

2007          California legislature approves the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act, requiring hunters to use non-lead ammunition for hunting big game and coyotes within the California condor’s range in central and southern California

2007          The California Fish and Game Commission approves additional hunting regulations that expand the non-lead bullet requirements to include hunting nongame birds and mammals within the condor range

2007          Major recall of toys from China containing lead

2007          Venison donated by hunters to food centers in North Dakota and Minnesota found to have high levels of lead bullet fragments, pose health risk to humans consuming venison

2007          Number of condor deaths in California confirmed or linked to lead poisoning rises to 15 birds

2008          Several studies demonstrate potential risks to humans who consume game meat harvested with lead rifle ammunition

2008          The California Fish and Game Commission extends protections of the Ridley-Tree Condor Conservation Act to depredation hunting, the shooting of animals deemed a nuisance or threat

2009          Lawsuit filed to force management plans on public lands in Arizona to include actions to protect Grand Canyon condors from toxic lead

2009          National Park Service announces plan to eliminate use of lead ammunition and lead fishing tackle in national parks by 2010

2009          EPA grants citizen petition to ban lead automobile wheel balancing weights - regulations requiring non-lead alternatives to be issued in 2011

2010          California passes legislation reducing amount of lead that is permissible in plumbing products used to convey or dispense drinking water

2010          Confirmed lead poisoning death of 15th endangered condor in Arizona since reintroduction program began in 1996, with many more deaths suspected to be from spent lead ammunition

2010          Conservation groups petition EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act to ban use of all lead ammunition and all lead fishing tackle nationwide