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History of Leaded Gasoline Timeline
1921: Discovery of Tetraethyl Lead (TEL)
- Thomas Midgley Jr. and Charles F. Kettering at General Motors discover that tetraethyl lead (TEL) effectively reduces engine knocking in internal combustion engines.
1923: Introduction of Leaded Gasoline
- Ethyl Corporation, a joint venture between General Motors, DuPont, and Standard Oil, is formed to produce and market leaded gasoline, branded as "Ethyl."
1920s: Early Health Concerns
- Reports of lead poisoning among workers in TEL production plants begin to emerge, raising initial concerns about the safety of leaded gasoline.
1930s-1950s: Widespread Use of Leaded Gasoline
- Leaded gasoline becomes the standard fuel for cars worldwide, with almost all gasoline containing lead to enhance engine performance and efficiency.
1960s: Mounting Evidence of Lead’s Health Risks
- Scientific studies begin to link leaded gasoline to environmental contamination and widespread lead exposure, with significant health risks, particularly to children.
1970: Clean Air Act in the United States
- The U.S. Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to regulate air pollutants, including lead, paving the way for future restrictions on leaded gasoline.
1975: Start of the Phase-Out in the United States
- The EPA mandates the introduction of unleaded gasoline and requires new cars to have catalytic converters, which only operate on unleaded fuel. This marks the beginning of the gradual phase-out of leaded gasoline.
1980s: Decline of Leaded Gasoline Use
- The use of leaded gasoline declines significantly in the United States and other developed countries as unleaded gasoline becomes more widespread.
1996: Ban on Leaded Gasoline for On-Road Vehicles in the U.S.
- The sale of leaded gasoline for on-road vehicles is banned in the United States, marking a significant milestone in the reduction of lead exposure.
2002: Global Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles
- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launches a global initiative to eliminate leaded gasoline worldwide, aiming to reduce lead pollution and its health impacts.
2000s-2010s: Global Phase-Out
- Many countries around the world, particularly in developing regions, gradually phase out the use of leaded gasoline, supported by international efforts.
2021: Global Elimination of Leaded Gasoline
- Algeria, the last country still using leaded gasoline, officially ends its sale, marking the global eradication of leaded gasoline and the conclusion of nearly a century of lead use in fuel.
Legacy: Ongoing Environmental and Health Impacts
- Despite the phase-out, the legacy of leaded gasoline lingers, with elevated lead levels still found in soils and older urban areas. The successful elimination of leaded gasoline is hailed as a major public health achievement, significantly reducing blood lead levels globally.