Lead in petrol

Press, 9 April 1981, Page 18

Lead in petrol

Sir,—The O.E.C.D. management plans for motor-car emissions also states "... emission standards combined with mandatory tuning and testing would result in no increase (indeed possibly a decrease) in fuel consumption.” Emission standards, however, cannot be adopted until petrol lead is removed as-.it chokes the catalytic converters which control other pollutants. Most, if not all, of Australia will introduce lead-free petrol in 1985 which could also improve fuel economy and reduce maintenance costs. If we do not follow their example all imported vehicles from Australia will have to be modified. It is ’not generally advertised that lead in petrol — at out almost record international levels — is not only a health hazard, particularly'for children, but also fouls spark plugs, contaminates engine oil and corrodes exhaust systems and mufflers. Already most imported cars can run on leadfree petrol. For such social and economic reasons lead-free petrol should be introduced here, while our options are still open.—Yours, etc., JANET R. HOLM. . April 6, 1981.