Scientists say Minister wrong on petrol lead

Press, 30 September 1986, Page 2

Scientists say Minister wrong on petrol lead

PA Wellington A statement by the Minister of Energy, Mr Tizard, that lead levels in New Zealand petrol were low and posed no health hazard was criticised yesterday by the Association of Scientists. An association spokeswoman, Dr Gail Irwin, said lead in petrol was closely linked to lead levels in people’s bodies. "The evidence that lead is associated with impaired mental development in children is increasing. Let the children, not the lead, be given the benefit of the doubt,” Dr Irwin said. The association was disappointed with the Minister’s response to the Commission for the Environment’s report on petrol-lead reduction and his comments were not consistent with those of the recent Royal Society of New Zealand report, which Mr Tizard had commissioned. Mr Tizard last week described the issue as “very emotional” and said New Zealand lead levels

were low compared with the rest of the world. Eliminating lead from petrol would mean higher refining costs. Dr Irwin refuted these comments, citing results from studies on lead levels carried out in New Zealand. “Busy streets in Auckland and Christchurch have been shown to have atmospheric levels of lead comparable with and often exceeding some of the most contaminated areas overseas,” she said. “A Health Department survey jinxed unusually high levels at the weekend in a quiet suburban street to the use of motor mowers — so even the lack of busy traffic is not an indicator of low exposure to lead from petrol.” •Dr Irwin suggested an independent Governmentsponsored study should be set up to look into the costs of eliminating lead from petrol in New Zealand. She said a study in Australia showed that the actual costs were well below those which had been estimated earlier by the oil industry.