U.S. - Biggest Leaded Fuel Polluter on the Planet
Leaded petrol—the gasoline used in cars and trucks—was phased out world-wide as of July 2021. But leaded avgas—the fuel used in piston-engine aircraft—is still in use, and is now the number one source of airborne lead pollution in the U.S.
Though the U.S. accounts for only 4 percent of the global population, out of 230,000 piston-engine aircraft worldwide, nearly three quarters are based in this country. These aircraft, which still use leaded fuel, are responsible for pumping 450 tons of lead into the environment every single year. Even though only one-quarter of one percent of the population is certified to pilot these aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains a glut of approximately 20,000 airports to accommodate these toxic vehicles. By comparison, Europe with a population more than twice that of the U.S., has a total of 2,323 airports. See GAMA 2019 Databook, Pgs. 41-42.
In 2002 the United Nations formed the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV). "At the time, 117 countries world-wide were still using leaded petrol with 86 countries supported to phase out leaded petrol. In 2006, the first major success was achieved—Sub-Saharan Africa went unleaded. The last country to switch was Algeria in July 2021."
Clearly the PCFV has an impressive track-record of eliminating leaded automotive fuel in countries throughout the world. In light of their success, perhaps this agency can be persuaded to turn its attention to the U.S. Congress, EPA and FAA - the government bodies and agencies that have for decades engaged in a pattern of delay, postponement and foot-dragging in banning the use of leaded aviation fuel. As a result of their inaction, vulnerable populations including disproportionately impacted children and members of minority communities, are being relentlessly subjected to the potentially irreversible impacts of lead poisoning.
Dr. Sammy Zahran, the lead researcher on the Leaded Aviation Gasoline Exposure Risk at Reid-Hillview Airport in Santa Clara County, California, estimated that sixteen million people, including about three million children, live within a kilometer of airports that service piston-engine aircraft. Several extensive studies have found links between elevated blood lead levels in children living in proximity to these airports. (Pg. x)
As reported by the UN, "Leaded petrol causes heart disease, stroke and cancer. It also affects the development of the human brain, especially harming children, with studies suggesting it reduced 5-10 IQ points. Banning the use of leaded petrol has been estimated to prevent more than 1.2 million premature deaths per year, increase IQ points among children, save USD 2.45 trillion for the global economy, and decrease crime rates."
Take Action
Contact your elected federal senators and representatives. Urge them to appeal to the UN to provide leadership, guidance, and expertise in prioritizing the elimination of leaded aviation fuel, a pernicious neurotoxin that now accounts for 70 percent of all airborne lead emissions in the U.S. Information on how to contact your legislators is available here.
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The following excerpt is from a 9/6/2021 Jalopnik article by Mercedes Street.
Here's Why Planes Still Fly with Leaded Fuel
"The United Nations Environment Program recently announced that the era of dangerous leaded fuel has finally come to an end, but it's not exactly true. A couple hundred thousand planes are still flying with leaded gasoline. Here's why.
On August 30, the UNEP announced that fuel stations in Algeria finally stopped dispensing leaded gasoline. The country was the last in the world to hang on to the old fuel and its banishment means that leaded fuel is off of roads worldwide. However, missing in the UNEP's announcement is that leaded fuel is alive and well up above, powering general aviation aircraft.
Leaded fuel was banned by the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. in 1996. Since then, you'll really only find it in some off-road vehicles, old boats, old farming equipment and yep, in the little Piper buzzing above your house."
To read the full article click here.
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