History of leaded petrol
Figure 4: Relative antiknock effectiveness of various compounds 10
Rollout and Controversy
Figure 5: Ethyl logo
The production and sale of TEL, now marketed as Ethyl, had always been marred by controversy. 8 deaths and many more illnesses were reported in one plant alone from 1923-25, sparking vehement comments in media, including concerns from public health experts, with one calling lead a serious menace to public health, and another calling TEL a ‘ malicious and creeping ’ poison. 11 The poisonous properties of lead were known as far back as the 2 nd century BC, with effects on the nervous system, kidneys and blood pressure well documented before the implementation of TEL as an anti-knock agent. 12
Many workers who came down with severe lead poisoning while working with TEL were documented to have become disoriented, then burst into an insane fury and collapsed into hysterical laughter, having to be wrestled into straitjackets. 13 This was because TEL was found to be much more toxic than lead alone, as it is fat-soluble and thus can be rapidly absorbed through skin and into the brain, leading to further neurological damage much quicker than lead by itself. In a public service health enquiry in May 1925, Kettering and others involved in Ethyl were faced with representatives of labour groups, oil companies, universities, government agencies and news organizations to hear arguments about TEL. 14 In August 1925, Midgeley published a paper attempting to stifle the public concern over the safety of Ethyl in plants and general use, stating that ‘ a hazard exists
10 Seyferth (note 7). 11 Bill Kovarik, ‘A century of tragedy: How the car and gas industry knew about the health risks of leaded fuel but sold it for 100 years anyway’, accessed 10 th August 2023, https://theconversation.com/a-century-of-tragedy- how-the-car-and-gas-industry-knew-about-the-health-risks-of-leaded-fuel-but-sold-it-for-100-years-anyway- 173395. 12 Herbert Needleman, ‘Lead Poisoning’, accessed 10 th August 2023, https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/get_the_lead_out/pdfs/health/Needleman_2004.pdf.
13 Kovarik (note 11). 14 Kovarik (note 5).
9
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting