Era of leaded petrol over: UNEP
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
Environment
- Published
1st Sep, 2021
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Context
The use of leaded petrol has been eradicated from the globe, as per the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Background
- Concerns were raised as early as 1924, when dozens of workers were hospitalised and five declared dead after suffering convulsions at a refinery run by US giant Standard Oil.
- Nevertheless, until the 1970s almost all the gasoline sold across the globe contained lead.
- When UNEP launched its campaign in 2002, many major powers had already stopped using the fuel, including the United States, China and India.
- By 2016, after North Korea, Myanmar and Afghanistan stopped selling leaded petrol.
- Only a handful of countries were still operating service stations providing the fuel.
- Algeria is the last country to use the fuel.
UNEP on polluting transport sector
- The transport sector is responsible for nearly a quarter of energy-related global greenhouse gas emissions and is set to grow to one third by 2050.
- 1.2 billion new vehicles would hit the streets in the coming decades.
- This includes millions of poor-quality used vehicles exported from Europe, the United States and Japan, to mid- and low-income countries.
- This contributes to planet warming and air polluting traffic.
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Important facts on lead
- Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust.
- Its widespread use has resulted in extensive environmental contamination, human exposure and significant public health problems in many parts of the world.
- Lead is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children.
- Lead in the body is distributed to the brain, liver, kidney and bones. It is stored in the teeth and bones, where it accumulates over time.
- Human exposure is usually assessed through the measurement of lead in blood.
- Lead in bone is released into blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing fetus.
Significance of the development
- It will prevent more than 1.2 million premature deaths and save world economies over $2.4 trillion annually.
- The development also offers an opportunity for restoring ecosystems, especially in urban environments, which have been particularly degraded by this toxic pollutant.
Impact on SDG
- The end of leaded petrol is expected to support the realization of multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including-
- good health and well-being (SDG3)
- clean water (SDG6)
- clean energy (SDG7)
- sustainable cities (SDG11)
- climate action (SDG13)
- life on land (SDG15)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Established on: 5th June 1972
- Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
- UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment.
- It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations
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