Hacker News Reader

Comment by sp332 | Hacker News Reader

Why does it have lead?

Because of leaded fuel and the principle of conservation of species and mass. Every atom of lead that ever passed through an American gas pump is currently laying around on American soil.

Lead used tp be a very common additive in gasoline. In the US there was no legislation to reduce it's use until the 1973 and it wasn't fully banned until 1996.

It can be assumed that any well-trafficked road during or before this period has substantial lead contamination.

It's still allowed in general aviation. Let your lawmakers know if that bothers you. The stakeholders in this case happen to be a small, wealthy minority.

Wealthy on a global level definitely, but as far as Americans go there are lots of relatively normal middle-income hobbyists in GA. You can buy and operate a plane for less than a used car if you're frugal about flying.

Probably from tetraethyl lead, which wasn’t banned in common fuels until the 70’s in the US.

That said, there are enough other sources of lead (e.g. old paint) that this isn’t guaranteed to be right.

Probably from tetraethyl lead, which wasn’t banned in common fuels until the 70’s in the US.

Except in California, which had leaded fuel well into the 90's for rich people's collector cars. Another example of the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do sorts of things that happen in California.

Yep, California banned leaded fuel for automotives in 1992, 4 years before the United States federal government followed up.

https://archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/epa-takes-final-step-ph...

Don't forget all piston powered aircraft flying today!

I think because of train tracks everywhere

Reply on news.ycombinator.com