Lead in Gasoline

Lead pollution

Lead in Gasoline: Tetraethyl Lead
(TEL or "Ethyl")

In 1922, General Motors researchers discovered that adding tetraethyl lead (TEL) to gasoline reduced engine "knock", allowing development of large, powerful automobiles with high compression engines.

In 1924, Du Pont and General Motors (GM) created Ethyl Corp. to market and produce TEL.

But "as early as the 1920s, public health experts, government officials, scientists, corporate leaders, labor, and the public were acutely aware of the dangers posed by the introduction of lead into gasoline." (Rosner & Markowitz, 1985)

Despite such awareness, the massive use of TEL went forward. Why? -- In the 1920s, Du Pont, GM and Ethyl, together with Standard Oil of N.J. forcefully presented 3 self-serving arguments:

1. Leaded gasoline was essential to the industrial progress of America--they promoted lead as a "gift of God".

2. Any innovation entails certain risks (which they said were minimal).

3. Deaths and illnesses at TEL processing plants were due to worker carelessness -- "blame the victim" strategy. (E.g., in 1924, 80% of Standard Oil's 49 TEL plant workers died or were severely poisoned from organic lead)

So, for the sake of massive private profits, leaded gasoline was promoted and sold for decades, resulting in millions of tons of toxic lead pollution in the U.S. (See Gallery of lead pollution promotions.)

In 1973, EPA initiated incremental reduction of TEL in gas.

In 1982, leaded gasoline contained 1.25 gram/gal (& accounted for 86% of the lead in the atmosphere).

By 1986, down to 0.1 gram/gal. But by then, lead used in U.S. gasoline since 1920s totaled 7 million metric tons (15.4 billion pounds)!

Since 31 December 1995 it has been illegal to sell for use in on-road vehicles any gasoline which contains lead or lead additives. (But in 1999 leaded gasoline still is produced in the U.S. and is being used in nonroad vehicles-- primarily as aviation fuel, but also in farm machinery and race cars.)

From 1986 to 1995, average lead concentrations in U.S. urban air decreased 78%. But abundant "legacy" lead remains in soil and dust.

During the 1990s, TEL use expanded abroad!

Optional resources concerning tetraethyl lead

(Also, see optional information concerning Ethyl Corp.)

Who still produces tetraethyl lead (TEL)?

"Charles F. Kettering and 1921 Discovery of Tetraethyl Lead in the Context of Technological Alternatives," Bill Kovarik, 1994, revised in 1999 -- A lengthy, detailed account. Originally presented to the Society of Automotive Engineers Fuels & Lubricants conference, Baltimore, MD, 1994

Leaded Gasoline Information -- useful internet links from Bill Kovarik

"Toxins at the Pump," Herbert L. Needleman and Philip J. Landrigan, Environmental Defense Fund News Release, March 1996 -- Discusses Ethyl Corporation's introduction of a fuel additive that is toxic to the brain, a form of manganese known as M.M.T.

"Ethyl Corporation v.s. Government of Canada: Now Investors Can Use NAFTA to Challenge Environmental Safeguards," Public Citizen, Global Trade Watch briefing paper, December 1998.

"Ten Myths About Leaded Gasoline; on the 75th Anniversary of the 1924 environmental controversy," Bill Kovarik, 1999

"History of Precaution, Part 1," Rachel's Environment & Health Weekly #539, 27 March 1997

"History of Precaution, Part 2," Rachel's Environment & Health Weekly #540, 3 April 1997

Rosner, David, & G. Markowitz. 1985. "A 'Gift of God'?: The Public Health Controversy over Leaded Gasoline during the 1920s." American Journal of Public Health, v. 75, n. 4 (April), pp. 344-352. (not online)

"Unleaded still not hitting on all cylinders with NASCAR," Thomas Pope, 19 February 1999, Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer-Times -- "Leaded gas is no longer available for passenger-car use in the United States because it is poisonous and contributes to pollution. The EPA does, however, permit leaded gas to be used in off-highway, sanctioned racing events. The additional octane provided by lead is a key component in a racing engine's combustion process." (not online)

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Thomas Detwyler maintains this page (tdetwyle@uwsp.edu)
Last updated 8 June 2001