So here is there justification for not going after private jets. <shrugs>

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Small planes are still spewing toxic lead across the US, EPA says

Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Description:
Piston-engine small aircraft are the only planes to still use leaded fuel in the US. Deposit Photos The agency says the over 220,000 piston-engine
aircraft still running on lead fuel are a public health concern under the
Clean Air Act. The post Small planes are still spewing toxic lead across the US, EPA says appeared first on Popular Science .

FULL STORY ====================================================================== Piston-engine small aircraft are the only planes to still use leaded fuel in the US. Deposit Photos

Airborne lead levels in the US have declined an impressive 99 percent since 1980 thanks to Environmental Protection Agency regulations, but leaded gas
isnt gone completely. While large jet aircraft do not use leaded fuel, according to the Federal Aviation Administration , over 220,000 smaller, piston-engine aircraft capable of carrying between two and 10 people still
run on leaded aviation gasoline, or avgas.

On Wednesday, the EPA took its first step towards attempting to finally phase out air transportations lingering lead holdouts with a new endangerment
finding announcement highlighting the adverse effects of even minuscule
levels of airborne lead. With the new findings, the EPA argues that leaded avgas endangers public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act and because of this, the US could finally see its first-ever avgas lead limitations.

The science is clear: exposure to lead can cause irreversible and life-long health effects in children, EPA Administrator Michael Regan via the agencys October 18 announcement . Aircraft that use leaded fuel are the dominant
source of lead emissions in our air.

[Related: The US cant get away from leads toxic legacy .]

The federal level determination earned support from legislators including
House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). [The] EPAs conclusion confirms what constituents in my district and Americans across the country know all too wellemissions from leaded aviation fuel contribute to dangerous lead air pollution, Lofgren said via the announcement . She also cited the disproportionate exposure to leaded avgas
in many poorer and minority communities near general aviation airports.

Leads neurotoxic effects have long been understood, especially its dangers to younger children, as it negatively affects cognitive abilities and slows physical growth . In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control announced a redefinition of lead poisoning , lowering the threshold for toxic exposure from 5 micrograms per deciliter of a childs blood down to just 3.5 mgs per deciliter. Even with the added stringency, however, the EPA reiterated in its October 18 announcement that there is no evidence of any threshold to fully reduce lead exposures harmful effects.

[Related: Leaded gas may have lowered the IQ of 170 million US adults .]

The new avgas endangerment finding does not carry any regulatory or legal weight itself. Instead, it opens the door to a future phaseout of avgas for small aircraft. Last year, the FAA and industry leaders announced their Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) program aiming to achieve
a lead-free aviation system by 2030. The FAA has already approved usage of a 100 octane unleaded fuel capable of being used by piston-engine aircraft, although the EPA notes it is not yet commercially available. A lower octane fuel is also available at an estimated 35 US airports, with plans to expand
and streamline the process for eligible aircraft to use this fuel.

As The Washington Post notes, however, the EPAs and FAAs attempts to phase
out avgas come as Congress considers a long-term reauthorization of the FAA that would all but require smaller airports to continue offering leaded
avgas.

While todays announcement is a step forward, we cannot be complacent, Lofgren added on Wednesday. We must finish the job and protect our nations children from all sources of lead.

The post Small planes are still spewing toxic lead across the US, EPA says appeared first on Popular Science . Articles may contain affiliate links
which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Link to news story: https://www.popsci.com/technology/epa-small-plane-leaded-fuel/


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