A report by an all party committee of members of Parliament has stirred public concern over health hazards arising from use of unleaded gasoline in the U.K.
A parliamentary select committee concluded that benzene used to boost octane levels in "superunleaded" fuel grades is more dangerous than the lead additives it replaces.
The committee called for an investigation into the use of ordinary unleaded gasoline in cars not fitted with catalytic converters.
Sales of unleaded gasoline were said to have been pushed by advertising campaigns emphasizing the "green" credentials of unleaded fuel without making the crucial distinction between performance with and without a converter.
Additives manufacturer Associated Octel Co. Ltd., Milton Keynes, U.K., has estimated that less than 10% of Britain's cars are fitted with catalytic converters.
RESPONSE TO CRITICISM
John Gummer, secretary of state for the environment, expressed surprise at the report's criticism of government policy on lead in gasoline.
Gummer said health advice is that there are no grounds for changing earlier findings that the changeover from leaded to unleaded fuel was beneficial.
"It is internationally accepted that lead can have particular effect on children's intellectual development," Gum-mer said. "The drop in concentrations of lead in urban areas is a major environmental achievement of which we should be proud.
"There is, in any event, no evidence that there is a significant difference between levels of benzene in emissions from uncatalyzed cars running on premium unleaded or four star (leaded) petrol."
The committee said benzene in superunleaded gasoline has been linked to childhood leukemia and cancer. Work is under way at University College London to prove the link between cars and cancer (OGJ, May 23, p. 41).
David Parker, director general of the U.K. Petroleum Industry Association (Ukpia), said the industry regrets the unwarranted concern the committee's conclusions will raise with consumers regarding use of unleaded gasoline.
"Unleaded fuel was introduced by the industry in direct response to requests from government to reduce the amount of lead in the environment," Parker said.
Ukpia said lead has not been replaced by aromatics or any other compound in premium unleaded gasoline grades.
Superunleaded gasoline was said to be better on balance than leaded for noncatalyst cars because it reduces emissions of particulates and reactive chemicals that form ozone.
INITIATIVE
On Oct. 26, the day after the MPs published their report, the U.K.'s National Society for Clean Air heard Andrew Harrison, fuels development manager at Shell U.K. Ltd., outline pollution reduction since the 1970s.
"Innovations such as unleaded gasoline, detergents in fuels, exhaust catalysts, and advanced electronic engine management system have together had a major impact," Harrison said.
"Compared to a car bought and driven in 1970, a new car bought in 1994 and run on today's fuels emits no lead, 93% less carbon monoxide, and 85% fewer hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen per kilometer."
Harrison said the oil and automotive industries had been joined by the European Commission in launching the Tripartite Initiative, an 8 million ($12 million) research program to pursue lasting air quality improvements. Recommendations based on this research are slated for mid-1995.
"We can expect a dramatic reduction in traffic emissions in the years 1992 to 2010 " Harrison said, "despite the predicted growth in traffic. For example, emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are predicted to fall by 75% and oxides of nitrogen by 50%."
Harrison warned that beyond 2000 all the "easy" technological solutions will have been implemented. Progress thereafter will depend on air quality targets and their cost to industry and its customers.
Copyright 1994 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
Issue date: 11/07/94
