Leaded Petrol is officially eradicated

Q  Why is it in News ? 

A The use of leaded petrol has been eradicated from the globe, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Q  What is Leaded Petrol?

A 

• Tetraethyl-lead (TEL) is a petro-fuel additive, first being mixed with petrol beginning in the 1920s as a patented octane rating booster that allowed engine compression to be raised substantially.
• This in turn caused increased vehicle performance and fuel economy.
• The practice of adding tetraethyl lead to petrol had spread widely to all countries soon after its anti-knock and octane-boosting properties were discovered.
• TEL is still used as an additive in some grades of aviation gasoline.

Q What are issues with leaded petrol ? 

A 

• Lead is toxic, affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children.
• It affects the brain, liver, kidneys and bones. Lead is measured in blood to understand exposure.
• Lead in bone is released into blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing foetus.
• More recent research has indicated that lead can damage the infant brain even at blood levels as low as 5 microunit per decilitre (μ/dl).

Q How is India’s tryst with leaded petrol ? 

A 

• India was among those countries that took early action to phase out leaded petrol. The process of phase down that had started in 1994, got completed in 2000.
• Initially, low-leaded petrol was introduced in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in 1994, followed by unleaded petrol in 1995.
• The entire country got low-leaded petrol in 1997 while leaded fuel was banned in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
• The final introduction of unleaded petrol in the entire country was mandated in April 2000.
• This decision was also catalysed by the Supreme Court order that had directed the introduction of unleaded petrol to enable the adoption of catalytic converters in petrol cars.

Q What is Significance of phasing out ? 

A 

• It is a milestone that will prevent more than 1.2 million premature deaths and save world economies over $2.4 trillion annually.
• It has taken 100 years to stop the use of leaded fuel finally.