India has yet to tackle the problem of leaded petrol, which causes brain damage in children
LEAD is the number one environmental threat to children in the US.
However, in India, lead is only one of
the major environmental threats to
children in overcrowded urban areas,
which have high traffic density.
Lead is used in petrol to improve
its octane rating. In most of the
industrialised world and in some
developing countries, steps have been taken to cut down
the lead content in petrol. Countries like Sweden and the
US have even succeeded in removing most of it.
However, the scenario is vastly different in India. Let
alone initiating steps to remove lead, we have not even
seriously thought about the problem. Lead disrupts some
enzymes that are useful to the functioning of the brain
and other cells. Though lead in the blood can be
removed, the lead that is absorbed in a child's brain
remains there forever. But research in the US in the past
10 years has conclusively proved that even a low level of
lead in the blood can lead to mental retardation and
learning disabilities among children.
In the '70s, if one decilitre of blood contained 30
micrograms of lead, it was considered to be a case of lead
poisoning. Later, 25 micrograms were considered unsafe
and now, research shows that even 10 micrograms may
be unsafe. We will have to keep in mind that these. levels
are appropriate for children in the more developed countries, where they get a more balanced diet. For malnourished Indian children, the minimum level may be even lower.
Three years ago, the Mysore Consumers' Council
organised a campaign to educate the citizens of Mysore
on the hazards of lead in petrol. About 10,000 pamphlets
were distributed and newspapers gave extensive coverage to the campaign. Motorists were requested not to buy
petrol for one day. They were also asked to participate in
a silent march through the city.
However, only five persons participated in the
demonstration. This clearly showed the people's indifference to a major environmental danger, either out of ignorance or cynicism.
Once, during a meeting of consumer activists in
Calcutta in 1991, 1 asked Maneka Gandhi why as environment minister, she had not taken steps to ban leaded petrol. According to her, she did try but failed because the cost was prohibitive and the petroleum ministry did
not cooperate.
In India, all refineries are owned and operated by the
government. Yet, we are unable to take the right decisions. For industrialised countries, the cost of removing
lead from petrol has been very high, but in India, it is relatively low because we do not need high-power petrol with high octane ratings.
Our consumption of petrol in 1993 was 3.8 million
tonnes. To convert all of it into unleaded petrol would
Cost about Rs. 350 crore a year. Another Rs 350 crore
upgrade refining capabilities in
octane ratings. The cost would go up by 90 paisa per litre.
This is indeed a small price to pay if we take into account the benefit of preventing mental retardation in children. Being involved with more esoteric subjects like
global warming and ozone depletion, our loaders have
little time for mundane subjects like producing unleaded
petrol. Or, are we waiting for instructions-from our
sutradhar (prompter), the World Bank?
Bhamy V Shenoy is associated with the Mysore Consumers'Council.
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