NASCAR under fire for using leaded gasoline

[RTF]

NASCAR is under fire from environmentalists for using leaded gasoline more than six years after the Environmental Protection Agency asked the stock car racing industry to switch to unleaded.

According to the Scripps-Howard report, the EPA has been trying since 1998 to convince NASCAR to switch to unleaded fuel. And after consulting with the EPA, NASCAR tested unleaded gas in some races during 1998 and 1999.

So some environmentalists seem to be wondering why a permanent change has not been made.

"By permitting the continued use of lead, your organization may be putting millions of spectators and nearby residents at unnecessary risk of suffering serious health effects," the environmental group Clean Air Watch said in a recent letter to NASCAR chairman Brian France.

The letter continued to persuade France into taking action by emphasizing that other countries have effectively made the switch.

"Because of the clear and public health threat, lead is being eliminated from gasoline throughout most of the world. If Kazakhstan can eliminate lead from gasoline, why can't NASCAR?"

The elimination of lead in gasoline in the United States during the 1970s and 80s — and the rest of the world more recently — is considered one of the great public health victories of the 20th century.

So what does NASCAR say about the issue?

NASCAR has "looked into and will continue to look into making the switch to unleaded," but has not been able to find an alternative additive to lead, which lubricates engine valves, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said.

So it seems maintaining the overall health and proficiency of cars' engines is (at least) an obstacle.

"Without being able to keep the valves lubed, the engines don't work as well and there would be continual problems," Posten said. "We just have not been able to find a solution."

The EPA claimed in a 2002 report that lead particles from auto exhaust can stay aloft for as long as 10 days and travel many miles from their source.

"The remaining uses of gasoline containing alkyl-lead, particularly for race cars and airplanes, potentially puts certain subpopulations at risk," the EPA said. "These subpopulations include residents, particularly children, near sources such as racetracks and general aviation airports; fuel attendants, racing crew staff, and spectators."

More than 3.5 million people attend national races every year.