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‘Presence of Neurotoxic Emissions from Lead Gasoline Near Smaller Airports Raises Concerns for Public Health’
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making progress in its efforts to regulate the use of leaded fuel in smaller planes. In a recent statement, the EPA emphasized the environmental and public health risks associated with lead emissions from aircraft engines. EPA administrator Michael Regan has called on the White House to propose new standards that would limit the use of leaded gasoline in aviation.
Leaded fuel is commonly used in smaller piston-engine aircraft, which often operate in and out of smaller airports, exposing nearby residents to lead pollution. This type of pollution can have irreversible and lifelong health effects, particularly in children. While average levels of lead exposure in the US have significantly decreased since the 1980s due to regulations on consumer products, living near airports that rely on leaded gasoline increases the risk of exposure.
With the EPA formally acknowledging the harmful effects of leaded gasoline, the agency can collaborate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop regulations that restrict its use. Although the FAA does not have direct regulatory authority over aviation fuel, it has committed to transitioning all piston-engine aircraft away from leaded fuels by the end of 2030.