Airborne Lead

Lead Study

• On August 3, 2021, the airborne lead study was released.   You can find it here. 
• The Santa Clara County Office of Education released this report Children's Exposure to Lead in Santa Clara County in August 2021.
• Lead Study overview provided by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs.
• On February 28, 2022, Michael McDonald sent this Report to EPA  regarding the Aviation Lead Study at Reid-Hillview Airport

Board of Supervisors Actions

• Board of Supervisors Report Back on Addressing Possible Lead Pollution from Reid-Hillview Airport ​10/21/2008​
• At the December 4th, 2018 Board of Supervisors Meeting, the Board directed Roads and Airports staff to report back with a recommended plan to analyze and address any concerns regarding airborne lead and associated concerns.  
  • Board of Supervisors Airports Business Plan Update 12/04/2018
  • Board of Supervisors 11-point motion that included the study of lead​ 12/04/2018
• At the February 11, 2020 Board of Supervisors Meeting​, the Board authorized a $250,000 contract with Mountain Data Group to complete a study of blood lead levels around Reid-Hillview and San Martin airports.
• Board of Supervisors Special Meeting to Discuss the Lead Report 08/17/2021
  Items 36, 37, 38 and 126
• Board of Supervisors file petition urging the EPA to ban leaded AvGas 05/24/2021

Fuel Specific Documents and Sites of Interest

• AVGAS Facts and Future - Shell
• FAA Issues Request for Unleaded Replacement for General Aviation Gasoline (Avgas) 06/10/2013

EPA’s Data and Analysis of Piston-Engine Aircraft Emissions of Lead at U.S. Airports​

The EPA is evaluating the air quality impact of lead emissions from aircraft using leaded aviation gasoline as described in the Federal Lead Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health Impacts and in response to the petitioner’s requests.

The materials provided below describe methods to calculate airport lead inventories, fact sheets on air quality monitoring at airports, a report and fact sheet on model-extrapolated estimates of lead concentrations at airports, and estimates of the number of people who live near or attend school near airports.

• Fact Sheet: Technical Update for Reports on the Impact of Lead Emissions from Piston-Engine Aircraft on Air Quality Near U.S. Airports (PDF)
• Model-extrapolated Estimates of Airborne Lead Concentrations at U.S. Airports (PDF)
• National Analysis of the Populations Residing Near or Attending School Near U.S. Airports (PDF)
• This and more information may be found on the EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/epas-data-and-analysis-piston-engine-aircraft-emissions​

Following is a list of additional documents related to the ongoing study of airborne lead at airports and the development of unleaded aviation fuel.

• Fact Sheet, Final Revisions To The National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead
  EPA (2008)
• Fact Sheet, Revisions to Lead Ambient Air Monitoring Requirements
  EPA (2010)
• Fact Sheet, Decision National Ambient Air Quality Standards For Lead
  EPA (2016)
• Interim Guidance on Mitigating Public Risks Associated With Lead Emissions from Avgas
  FAA (2013)
• A Geospatial Analysis of the Effects of Aviation Gasoline on Childhood Blood Lead Levels
  Miranda, Anthopolos and Hastings (2011)
• Environmental Health Perspectives
• The Effect of Leaded Aviation Gasoline on Blood Lead in Children
  Sammy Zahran, Terrence Iverson, Shawn P. McE.murry, Stephan Weiler (2017)

• Selection of Airports for the Airport Monitoring Study
  Marion Hoyer, Meredity Pedde, EPA (2010)
• Development and Evaluation of an Air Quality Modeling Approach for Lead Emissions from Piston-Engine Aircraft Operating on Leaded Aviation Gasoline
  EPA (2010)
• Calculating Piston-Engine Aircraft Airport Inventories for Lead for the 2008 National Emissions Inventory 
  EPA (2010)
• Lead Emissions from the Use of Leaded Aviation Gasoline in the United States, Technical Support Document
  EPA (2008)
• Technical Note - Lead (Pb) Ambient Air Monitoring Network Design Issues
  EPA (2009)
• FAA Website - About Aviation Gasoline 
• EPA Website - Regulations for Lead Emissions from Aircraft

• EPA Website - EPA's Data and Analysis of Piston-engine Aircraft Emissions of Lead at U.S. Airports
• Website - EPA's 2009-2010 Lead Modeling Study at the Santa Monica Airport

 

2018 Public Comments

All public comments received regarding the perceived hazards associated with leaded aviation gasoline are provided below.

Anissa Mohler 12/02/2018

California Pilots Association 12/02/2018

    SCAPA EPA Lead Monitoring at the San Carlos Airport 04/20/2015

 

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