you must be kidding

[isham-research.freeserve.co.uk at pop.pol.net.uk]

> We do have leaded gas here in Norway, but the lead is no lead no more.
> The lead is replaced with substances that perform the same lubrication
> for the valves as the lead did. I doubt that *real* lead is still
> contained in fuel anywhere, except maybe remote places that dont give a
> rats ass about the environment.

The jury is still out on the environment.

Lead from burnt fuel has never been associated with lead poisoning in
vulnerable groups such as babies and infants.  Glaswegian water pipes
are known to have impacted hundreds if not thousands of people.

Only yesterday someone told me he's free of asthma because he now has
a less stressful job - he doesn't need to drive any more and never needs
his inhaler.  Well - there's a DAMN good correlation between fuel
consumption in turbo diesels and asthma in children.  There's also a
(proven in Sweden) correlation between certain cancers and benzene -
a major component of lead-free petrol.  Anyone notice how fast
self-service filling stations swept across Europe when the fuel started
containing benzene?  WHAM - all the professionals were sitting behind
glass and the mugs were pumping gas and inhaling the fumes.

Just recently, an environmental pressure group in the UK has started
gaining awareness for a study relating an 80% decline in house sparrows
and a 67% decline in starlings with unleaded fuel.

I'm happy.  Both my I5 Audis will run on either leaded or unleaded.
Both also meet _current_ emission regulations, because both are well
maintained.  And by using 12-year-old cars, I'm avoiding the _MASSIVE_
energy penalty involved in the production of new ones.

--
 Phil Payne
 http://www.isham-research.freeserve.co.uk/quattro
 Phone +44 7785 302803   Fax: +44 7785 309674