**1. Introduction**

Bullets made from lead cause lead intoxication (plumbism), which may be fatal if left unremoved for a period of time [1]. Fragment of lead radiates in target animals [2]. The target doses of lead fragments in Andean condors, Turkey vulture and bald eagle are 45.5–58.2, 20.7–33.8 and 11.5–27.0 mg/kg, respectively [3–5]. Interference of lead with calcium metabolism can lead to neurological and neuromuscular disorders via signal transduction of protein kinases, neurotransmitter and calcium [6]. Behavioural and learning deficiencies have been linked to interference of lead with signalling of brain cells in human and birds [7, 8]. Bullet fragments can be lodged in body joints and cause anaemia, abdominal colic, nephropathy and neuropathy. The precipitating factors are infection, metabolic stress and alcoholism [2]. Mass spectrometric isotope dilution analysis with chelation therapy was used for the mobilization of lead from bone [1]. Violence can lead to the use of firearms causing lead poisoning characterized in part by changes in behaviour, neurological status and death. Clinical neuronal manifestations are fatigue, malaise, irritability, loss of libido, headache, encephalopathy, delirium, ataxia, convulsions and motor neuropathy [9]. As low as 10 μg/dl interferes with haem synthesis and increases aminolevulinic acid (ALA) that suppresses gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission [10]. Lead concentration less than 4 μm causes acute encephalopathy [11]. Lead exposure (0.25 μg/g) of brain tissues for 50 days, starting on post-natal day 1, caused abnormal expression of glial-related genes [12]. Lead (19–31 μg/dl) caused decrease in the size of cortical column in somatosensory cortex [13]. Placental blood lead (10 μg/dl) caused cognitive impairment [14]. Bullet lodged in various parts of the body can stay in the body for 3 months to 40 years, and associated neurodiseases are alcoholism, delirium tremens, thyrotoxicosis and shock. Gunshot after 4 years caused depression with detected blood lead of 6.7 μg/dl [1]. Intracellular bullets may result in unwanted long-term complications [15]. After 4 years gunshot, caused malaise and weakness with blood level of lead 62 μg/dl, whereas gunshot after 3 years caused paroxysmal abdominal pain and post prandial emesis [16]. Clinical toxic threshold doses for lead fragments in blood (50–100 μg/dl), liver (6 mg/kg), Kidney (4–16 mg/kg) and bone (>20 mg/kg) have been reported for Anseriformes, Falconiformes and Accipitriformes, respectively [17]. Lead concentration of blood (<0.2 ppm), liver and kidney (>2 ppm) and bone (<10 ppm) have been reported for birds not exposed to lead [18], but the cost of antidotes has increased [19]. Therefore, poisoning severity score can be modified to assess the degree of bullet toxicity [20] in human and wildlife with a view to curtailing consequences of lead poisoning.
