Since the 1980s, we’ve seen advertisements about why we should stop using Leaded petrol. Those who are as middle-aged as we are would have seen those ads. Recently, in Algeria, which was the last country to still sell leaded petrol, ran out of it’s last supplies (in July).
This means that there are no more countries in the world that uses leaded petrol for cars and lorries! With the world in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, this is excellent news for the Chemists! We need to celebrate every victory we can get and this is a huge one.
As a child, I once did a research project on Leaded Petrol vs Unleaded Petrol. Cycling to the National library was our best way of doing research in the early 90s. (Also, we did not emit any fumes by cycling back then ^_^) Anyway, the results of my research were horrifying. Leaded petrol was linked to heart disease, cancer & stroke, as well as brain development in children. Fortunately, even in my country of Brunei, the government had already been advising citizens to buy “Green” fuel rather than “Red” (back then it was color coded as thus, and then later totally removed from sale).
Most high-income countries had banned the fuel by the 1980s and that was to correct the mistake we made ever introducing leaded petrol in the 1920s, which was thought to improve engine performance.
Some striking features in this infographic from 2016 caught my eye recently and that was the energy output per litre between Petrol & Diesel fuels. A stunning 3.2MJ per litre! This is why Europe was keen to push for Diesel fuels. However, as with most things in Science, there are always double-edged swords. Diesel fuels require constant maintenance on their filter. The emissions don’t just leave a bad taste in your mouth but have lasting bad effects on our lungs & bodies too!
Anyway, back in 1924, five workers were declared dead & dozens more were hospitalized after suffering convulsions at a refinery run by the US oil giant Standard Oil. This was the first alarm that was raised and Scientists started to correct their mistakes (as always). However, despite this, lead continued to be added to all petrol globally until the 1970s and a decade+ being outright banned. Finally, until just July this year… it finally ran out.
Such are the issues surrounding the Electric Car, EV1s that were sold in the US around the same time as leaded petrol was being eradicated but the never ending battle between Scientists with ethics vs corporations driven by profit will go on…
The UN’s environmental body UNEP has worked with governments, private companies & civic groups since 2002 to end the use of leaded petrol but their power & influence has always been stymied by various other factors. Greenpeace called this eradication of leaded petrol, “the end of one toxic era”. This current generation is very fortunate to have been born at the end of this era… and will continue to Greta Thunberg the heck out of today’s politicians and bring a literal ‘Green New Deal’ that truly makes the world a better place for our children.
Ravenslark 1/9/2021
Maxim's Chemistry Musings 