Air Quality Victory: 1996 Ban On Pollutant

In 1996, New Zealand became the latest country to ban an air pollutant that had been causing harm to populations around the world. Despite initial resistance, the country eventually phased out the pollutant in question, joining other nations in their efforts to protect the environment and public health. This decision was the culmination of a long process involving research, advocacy, and international collaboration. So, which harmful substance was removed from use in New Zealand in 1996, and what impact did this have?

Lead was removed from gasoline in New Zealand in 1996

Lead was a common additive in gasoline for many years, but in the 1990s, it was recognised as a hazardous air pollutant and began to be phased out in many countries. In 1996, New Zealand joined this movement, removing lead from gasoline.

The push to ban lead from gasoline in New Zealand was not without its challenges. Despite international evidence and original research conducted in New Zealand on the harmful effects of lead exposure, particularly on child cognitive function and behaviour, there was resistance from governing bodies. Some officials downplayed the significance of motor vehicle pollution, citing New Zealand's relatively low density of motor cars per square kilometre and the country's "remarkably good atmosphere".

One notable advocate for the removal of lead from gasoline was Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) Philip Woollaston, who, in 1982, introduced a private member's bill called the Lead Pollution Control Bill. However, his efforts were met with scorn by members of the governing National Party, who dismissed the bill as "emotional bandwaggoning".

It took over two decades of advocacy and evidence-building for New Zealand to finally remove lead from gasoline. The ban was a critical step in reducing population blood lead concentrations and protecting public health, particularly that of children. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank also focused their efforts on this issue, recognising the importance of eliminating lead additives in gasoline worldwide.

Caprolactam was removed from the list of hazardous air pollutants in 1996

The year 1996 saw the removal of Caprolactam from the list of hazardous air pollutants. This occurred in June, according to the Federal Register on June 18, 1996 (61 FR 30816).

Caprolactam, an organic compound with the formula (CH2)5C(O)NH, is a colourless solid and a lactam (a cyclic amide) of caproic acid. The global demand for this compound is high, with an estimated need of around five million tons per year. The primary use of Caprolactam is in the production of Nylon 6 filament, fibre, and plastics. It is also utilised as a chemical intermediate in smaller quantities.

The removal of Caprolactam from the list of hazardous air pollutants is an interesting development, especially considering the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) mandate under the Clean Air Act to regulate emissions of such substances. The EPA's original list of hazardous air pollutants included 189 pollutants, and since 1990, the agency has made modifications to include even more pollutants, demonstrating their commitment to addressing air quality concerns.

The EPA's decision to remove Caprolactam from the list of hazardous air pollutants in 1996 may have been influenced by various factors. One possible reason could be new scientific findings or research that indicated Caprolactam's impact on air quality was less severe than initially believed. Additionally, advancements in industrial practices and technologies may have contributed to reduced emissions of Caprolactam, making it less of a concern for air pollution.

It is worth noting that the EPA has a rigorous process for adding and removing substances from the list of hazardous air pollutants. They consider various factors, including the potential risks to human health and the environment, as well as the economic and technical feasibility of regulating the emission of a particular substance. In the case of Caprolactam, the EPA may have determined that the risks associated with its emissions no longer warranted its inclusion on the list of hazardous air pollutants.

Beede Waste Oil was declared a Superfund site in 1996

Beede Waste Oil, a 41-acre site in Plaistow, New Hampshire, was declared a Superfund Site in December 1996. The site was a state-licensed waste oil recycling and disposal facility that operated from the 1920s until its closure in 1994.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared it a Superfund Site due to soil and groundwater contamination. Waste oil had been stored in an unlined lagoon and various underground and above-ground storage tanks, from which it seeped out and contaminated the surrounding area. The drinking water supply wells of two dozen families were found to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The EPA and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) have invested about $19 million in investigation and cleanup work at the site. This has included the removal of approximately 1.1 million gallons of waste oil, sludge, and water from the former storage tanks and drums, as well as the installation of an interceptor trench to capture oil seeping into nearby Kelley Brook. Over 80,000 gallons of oil have been removed from the groundwater table through vacuum extraction wells.

The cleanup plan also addresses the remaining shallow soil impacted by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) due to poor waste handling in the past. The Beede Site Group, a consortium of unaffiliated companies who were customers of the former licensed waste oil facility, hired Woodard & Curran in 2006 to supervise the site's remediation program. The ongoing remedial work is also playing a part in restoring the natural habitat so that native species can thrive.

International evidence and original research showed lead exposure harmed child cognitive function

Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust. Its widespread use has caused extensive environmental contamination, human exposure, and significant public health problems globally. Lead adversely affects nearly every system in the human body and is particularly harmful to the developing nervous system.

International evidence and original research have shown that lead exposure can harm child cognitive function. For example, a study of Mexican children examined the effects of zinc supplementation on blood lead levels, behaviour, and cognitive performance. It found no significant effects, either in the short or long term, on blood lead levels, behaviour, or cognition. However, the study also acknowledged the scarcity of research in this area and the need for further investigation.

Another study, using a nationally representative sample of older adults in the US, found that those who lived as children in cities with lead pipes and acidic or alkaline water—conditions that allow lead to leach into drinking water—had worse cognitive functioning later in life. This study also emphasised the need for stronger actions to identify interventions that can mitigate long-term damage among people at high-risk lead exposure.

Additionally, research has shown that childhood lead exposure can alter brain structure, harm neurobehavioural development, and impair academic performance, leading to reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), behavioural changes, and reduced educational attainment. Lead exposure during pregnancy can also cause reduced fetal growth and preterm birth, impacting the cognitive development of the child.

The Flint, Michigan water crisis further highlighted the concerns about lead toxicity in drinking water and its negative impact on children's cognition. Despite legislative restrictions on leaded gasoline and paint, residents of many US cities remain exposed to high lead levels through drinking water, and more than 40% of US schools have higher than the recommended levels of lead in their tap water.

The removal of lead from gasoline is considered critical to reducing population blood lead concentrations

Lead is a highly toxic chemical element that poses a significant threat to human health. Beginning in 1922, millions of tons of lead were added to gasoline worldwide, with leaded gasoline becoming a major source of population lead exposure. The removal of lead from gasoline is, therefore, critical to reducing population blood lead concentrations.

The dangers of lead exposure have been recognised for decades, with public health initiatives to limit lead exposure dating back many years. However, the phasing out of lead from gasoline has been a relatively more recent development. In the 1960s, some countries began removing lead from automotive gasoline, a process that was only completed in 2021.

The link between leaded gasoline and population blood lead levels is evident from various studies. Research has shown that the removal of lead from gasoline is associated with significant declines in population mean blood lead levels (BPb) across all countries examined. In some cases, BPb levels have continued to fall even after the elimination of lead from gasoline. This trend is supported by data showing correlations between declining lead concentrations in gasoline and reductions in air lead levels.

Despite the clear health risks, the process of removing lead from gasoline has faced challenges and delays in some countries. For example, in New Zealand, the government agencies responsible for addressing the issue of leaded gasoline were criticised for their delay and evasion tactics. It was only in 1996 that New Zealand finally phased out lead from gasoline, and this was driven more by engineering and cost considerations than by health concerns.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank have recognised the importance of reducing lead in gasoline, and they have focused their efforts on this issue. The United Nations' "Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles", launched in 2002, aimed to eliminate leaded gasoline worldwide by the end of 2008. These initiatives reflect a growing awareness of the critical role that the removal of lead from gasoline plays in reducing population blood lead concentrations.

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