Not better off lead
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| Valerie Thomas taking the lead in lead studies |
While many countries in the Western world have almost eradicated the use of organolead additives from the vehicle fuels, many developing regions have been unwilling or simply unable to address the problem.
A new study by Princeton University researchers, which appears in the November 15th issue of Environmental Science & Technologydemonstrates, for the first time, that it is possible to predict the extent to which switching from leaded to unleaded gasoline reduces the level of lead in people's blood.
According to Valerie Thomas of Princeton's Center for Energy and Environmental Studies some of the highest concentrations of lead in gasoline are found in Africa, where there has been almost no progress in phasing lead out of gasoline countries including Nigeria, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and South Africa are the main users.
In areas where lead is no longer used in gasoline, blood levels typically fall to about three micrograms per decilitre from above ten - ten is considered the threshold for ill effects on health. Young children are the most susceptible to lead poisoning, with effects such as reduced IQs, learning disabilities and slow development being reported in chronic exposure. The problem with assessing any positive effect of removing leaded fuels is that exposure from industrial emissions, lead-soldered food cans and lead-based paint may also contribute to elevated blood lead levels.
Thomas' study, however, demonstrates a definite correlation with changing average blood lead concentration in data from Europe, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, South Africa, USA and Venezuela and the reduction of leaded fuel on the market. Her results should assist policy makers in areas where leaded fuels are still commonly used and provide a much-needed incentive to reduce leaded fuel use in regions where it is still common.
