Do you keep forgetting things? This now illegal substance could be causing your memory to fail
This compound was added to gasoline to reduce engine knocking and increase the fuel’s octane rating. But it caused pollution and poisoning.
The impact of poisoning and other health issues relating to exposure to lead has been known about for centuries. Lead (Pb), a naturally occurring toxic metal, has been used in everything from pipes, to paint, batteries and cosmetics.
Until relatively recently, it was also added, in compound form, to gasoline to help cars run more efficiently. Tetraethyl lead (TEL) was added to gasoline to reduce engine knocking and increase the fuel’s octane rating. From its introduction in the early 1920s, the hazards of lead poisoning were well known.
The effects of lead poisoning in humans
Lead affects multiple human organs and body systems, and is particularly dangerous to the brain, liver, kidney and bones. Young children and women of child-bearing age are primarily at risk.
The human body stores lead in the teeth and bones. Exposure is measured by detecting traces of the metal in blood.
The first calls for leaded gasoline to be banned were raised by several public health experts in the mid-20s, and TEL sales were suspended for a year to conduct an investigation into its toxicity.
By the 1970s, several scientific studies had shown that TEL was bad for the environment and our health - causing pollution and poisoning.
Leaded fuel banned in the United States
Leaded gas started to be phased out in 1976 and with bans for leaded-fuelled road vehicles in full effect in California by 1992 and nationwide in the US (including Puerto Rico) by 1 January 1996.
Serbia was the last European country to impose a full ban on TEL (2010) while Afghanistan was the latest country to prohibit leaded-fueled vehicles, their band coming into force in 2016
But has the damage already been done? What are the hidden dangers for the generation who were exposed to TEL in the 60s, 70s and 80s? According to Dr Maria C. Carrillo, the Alzheimer’s Association‘s chief science officer, we may soon see an epidemic of baby boomers suffering from conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s as a result of their exposure to leaded fuel.
Baby boomers had 15 times more lead in their blood than today’s children
“Research suggests that half the US population, more than 170 million people, were exposed to high lead levels in early childhood,” Dr Carrillo explains.
A recent paper published by the University of Toronto, claims that anyone who lived in an area with high levels of atmospheric lead between 1960 and 1974 will be 20% more likely to suffer memory issues later in life.
There are other contributing factors to consider of course - anyone living near roadways will experience increased exposure to other pollutants such as ultra-fine particles, heavy metals and nitrogen oxides - all of which have a detrimental effect on our health.
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