Timothy Puko and Lori Aratani write in The Washington Post about the EPA's first step toward regulations aimed at reducing lead exposure from plane fuel.
In a nutshell:
The Environmental Protection Agency has declared that lead emissions from aircraft pose a public health threat, paving the way for potential regulations on aviation's lead fuel usage. This decision places the Biden administration amidst an escalating debate regarding the timeline for phasing out leaded gasoline in airports, especially smaller ones, as over 170,000 piston-engine planes still operate on this fuel. As the EPA takes its stand, the Federal Aviation Administration is also gearing up to implement measures to control or eradicate lead emissions from these aircraft, even as industry groups urge for a coordinated transition, emphasizing the importance of safety and economic implications.
Key quote:
“The science is clear: Exposure to lead can cause irreversible and lifelong health effects in children. Aircraft that use leaded fuel are the dominant source of lead emissions in our air.”
-- EPA Administrator Michael Regan
The big picture:
Lead emissions from aircraft have been identified as a significant contributor to airborne lead levels, posing a direct threat to public health. Exposure to this heavy metal, even in minute amounts, is linked to behavioral issues, diminished IQ scores and stunted growth, particularly in children. Such health concerns are amplified in communities near smaller airports, often located in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, where the effects of lead pollution are most acutely felt.
Read the article in The Washington Post.
Want to learn more about how lead contamination affects our brains? EHN reporter Kristina Marusic talked with Living on Earth last year about lead-contaminated water and mental health.
