The UN reported this week that the world has recently reached a significant milestone by ending the use of leaded gasoline, a substance that has posed a significant threat to the environment and public health.
But why did countries use leaded gasoline in the first place, and why did it take so long to phase it out? Tetraethyl lead was added to gasoline from 1922 to help engines perform better. However, lead is poisonous to humans, and exposure can cause severe neurological damage, a fact known throughout the entire period when leaded gasoline was in use.
Despite the risks, leaded gasoline became the standard in the United States for decades. Similar to the tobacco industry, companies with an interest in its continued use, including General Motors, funded studies to create the false impression that leaded gasoline was safe, according to a BBC News article. Competition with leaded fuel was also a reason why E10 (a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline) did not take off in the 1930s, only to return decades later.
The United States began gradually phasing out leaded gasoline in 1975, not for health reasons, but because it fouled catalytic converters, which at that time were mandated to reduce emissions.
Leaded gas could be sold in the U.S. until January 1996, though by then it was extremely rare and limited to marine and classic car use. However, it remained available in other countries until July of this year when Algeria ended sales of the fuel, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In 2002, when the UN initiated its campaign, 217 countries still used leaded gas, primarily focusing on Africa and developing countries. Africa has a long pattern of obtaining some of the world’s dirtiest fuels. Besides Algeria, Yemen and Iraq were among the last to phase it out, according to a 2018 UN map.
Now that the world is finally bidding farewell to leaded gasoline, we can envision a day when the last gallon of gasoline is sold. However, the time it will take to reach that point remains uncertain.
