The End Of Leaded Fuel: A Historical Transition

The use of leaded fuel has been phased out across the world, with Algeria becoming the last country to ban it in 2021. Leaded fuel was first introduced in the 1920s, and it took several decades for scientists to establish the damage it was causing to human health and the environment. The phase-out of leaded fuel was driven by health and environmental concerns, with countries starting to ban its use in the 1970s. Today, leaded fuel is no longer used in road vehicles, but it is still permitted in some countries for aviation, motorsports, and other off-road uses.

The dangers of leaded fuel

Leaded fuel has been linked to a wide range of health issues and environmental damage. The dangers of lead have been known since ancient times, with the ancient Romans aware that it could cause madness and death. Despite this, leaded fuel was born out of convenience and profit.

In the 1920s, researchers at General Motors discovered that adding tetraethyl lead to gasoline could improve engine performance. However, the health risks of lead were well known at the time, and public health experts criticised the decision. In 1924, two dozen workers at a refinery in New Jersey suffered severe lead poisoning, with six dying from the toxic effects. Despite this, leaded gasoline went on to dominate fuel markets worldwide.

In the decades that followed, the health impacts of leaded exhaust became increasingly clear. As early as the 1950s, researchers linked leaded exhaust to various health issues, including high blood pressure, kidney failure, anaemia, blindness, and infertility. The damage caused by leaded fuel was particularly pronounced in children, who are especially vulnerable to even minute amounts of lead exposure.

In the 1970s, studies found a correlation between high lead levels in children and low IQ and other developmental problems. Additionally, leaded fuel was found to damage catalytic converters, which are essential for reducing vehicle emissions. These health and environmental concerns ultimately led to a global phase-out of leaded fuel.

The use of leaded fuel has had long-lasting effects, leaving high concentrations of lead in the soil adjacent to heavily used roads. This contamination persists and poses health risks even today. However, the successful phase-out of leaded fuel is a significant achievement, saving millions of lives and trillions of dollars annually.

Alternatives to leaded fuel

The use of leaded fuel was gradually phased out in the 20th century, with most countries banning its use in the early 2000s. The last country to use leaded fuel, Algeria, phased it out in July 2021.

The alternatives to leaded fuel can be divided into two categories: those required for physical compatibility with unleaded fuel, and those performed to compensate for the relatively low octane of early unleaded fuels.

Physical Compatibility

Physical compatibility requires the installation of hardened exhaust valves and seats. This is because the combustion chamber area is the hottest place inside the engine, and the high temperatures can cause microwelds to form between the exhaust valve and its seat. These microwelds then rip apart when the valve is opened again, causing damage over time.

Compatibility with reduced octane

Compatibility with reduced octane can be addressed by reducing compression. This can be achieved by installing thicker cylinder head gaskets and/or rebuilding the engine with compression-reducing pistons. However, modern high-octane unleaded gasoline has eliminated the need to decrease compression ratios.

Additives

There are also fuel additives that can be used as a lead substitute in older cars that were designed to run on leaded fuel. These additives include:

• Millers VSP Plus (manganese)
• Red Line Lead Substitute (sodium)
• Superblend Zero Lead (potassium)
• Castrol Valvemaster & Valvemaster Plus (phosphorus)
• Carplan Nitrox 4-Star (potassium) & 4-Lead (manganese)
• Gunk
• Autobarn lead substitute
• BG100

Countries that phased out leaded fuel

The phasing out of leaded fuel has been a long process, with many countries taking different amounts of time to implement the change. Here is a list of countries that have phased out leaded fuel, with details about their individual processes:

Japan

Japan was the first country to ban leaded gasoline in 1986. The movement to ban leaded gasoline began in April 1970 when media reports showed that residents near the Ushigome Yanagicho crossing in Tokyo had high levels of lead in their blood. The crossing was a busy intersection located at a low altitude, making it one of the hardest-hit areas by air pollution from automobiles. The media and public called for a ban on tetraethyl lead in gasoline, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) issued a notification to gradually reduce it. In February 1975, regular gasoline no longer included lead, and by 1986, all gasoline for on-road vehicles was completely lead-free.

Austria, Canada, Slovakia, Denmark, and Sweden

Following Japan's lead, these countries were the next to ban leaded gasoline.

United States

In the United States, the phase-out of leaded gasoline began in 1973 with the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts. By the mid-1980s, most gasoline used in the country was unleaded. However, it wasn't until 1996 that leaded gasoline for passenger cars was fully banned. Today, leaded fuel is only permitted for aircraft and off-road vehicles.

Germany

Similar to the United States, Germany phased out leaded fuel in 1996.

European Union and the United Kingdom

Since January 1993, all gasoline-powered cars sold in the European Union and the United Kingdom have been required to use unleaded fuel to comply with the Euro 1 emission standards. Leaded gasoline was officially removed from the market in these regions on January 1, 2000, and a Lead Replacement Petrol was introduced, although it was mostly withdrawn by 2003.

Algeria

Algeria was the last country to ban leaded gasoline in 2021. It was a significant holdout, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) had to work for 19 years to eliminate leaded gasoline in the country.

The timeline of the change from leaded fuel

The use of leaded fuel has been phased out over several decades, with most countries banning its use between the 1970s and the early 2000s. Here is a detailed timeline of the change from leaded to unleaded fuel:

1920s:

The first use of leaded gasoline was recorded in February 1923 in Dayton, Ohio. Thomas Midgley Jr., an engineer at General Motors, discovered that adding tetraethyl lead (TEL) to gasoline improved engine performance and fuel economy. Despite known health risks, the use of leaded gasoline became widespread in the following years.

1930s:

The production and use of leaded gasoline continued to grow. In 1935, a license to produce TEL was granted to IG Farben, enabling the German Luftwaffe to use high-octane gasoline.

1940s:

During World War II, the use of TEL in aviation fuel allowed for high-performance turbocharged and supercharged engines.

1950s:

In December 1955, a price for leaded gasoline was posted at a station in Everett, Massachusetts, highlighting its common use at the time.

1960s:

The first clinical studies emerged in 1969, showing the toxic impacts of leaded gasoline on humans. This sparked a shift towards unleaded fuel in some countries.

1970s:

Many countries began to phase out leaded gasoline in the 1970s due to growing health and environmental concerns. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started an effort to reduce lead emissions in 1970 and issued the first reduction standards in 1973. New vehicles were designed to run on unleaded gasoline, and the use of catalytic converters became necessary, further accelerating the transition.

1980s:

By the mid-1980s, most gasoline used in the US was unleaded. Japan became the first country to completely ban leaded gasoline in 1986.

1990s:

In 1996, the use of leaded gasoline in passenger cars was fully banned in the US. The European Union also banned leaded gasoline from 2000 onwards, although some member states had already prohibited its use earlier.

2000s:

The phase-out of leaded gasoline continued globally, with developing countries embracing the change within a decade.

2010s-2020s:

The remaining holdout countries, including Algeria, Iraq, Yemen, Myanmar, North Korea, and Afghanistan, gradually phased out leaded gasoline. In 2021, Algeria became the last country to ban leaded gasoline, marking the official end of its use worldwide.

The impact of the change from leaded fuel

The change from leaded fuel has had a significant and wide-ranging impact on public health, the environment, and crime rates.

Public Health

The use of tetraethyllead (TEL) as a fuel additive has been linked to various health issues, particularly in children. Studies suggest that banning leaded petrol has increased children's IQ points and prevented more than 1.2 million premature deaths per year. Exposure to lead has been associated with lower IQs, elevated blood pressure, kidney damage, and impaired brain development. The phase-out of leaded fuel has resulted in a significant decrease in blood lead levels globally, reducing cumulative brain damage and improving overall cognitive function.

Environment

The elimination of leaded petrol has positively impacted the environment, as lead contamination was a significant issue for air, dust, soil, drinking water, and food crops. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) led a 19-year campaign to eliminate lead from petrol, recognising it as one of the most serious environmental threats to human health. The phase-out has resulted in improved air quality, reducing pollution in towns and cities and mitigating the damaging effects of lead on the environment.

Crime Rates

Interestingly, the reduction in lead exposure has also been linked to decreasing violent crime rates. A statistically significant correlation has been found between the usage rate of leaded gasoline and violent crime, with a 22-year time lag. Researchers attribute a significant portion of the decline in crime rates from 1992 to 2002 to the reduced exposure to lead.

Economic Impact

The removal of TEL has resulted in substantial economic benefits. According to the United Nations, the global phase-out of leaded fuel has saved approximately $2.4 trillion annually due to improved health and lower crime rates.

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