Leading the way to brain damage

LEAD is the number one environmental threat to children in the US.However, in India, lead is only one ofthe major environmental threats tochildren in overcrowded urban areas,which have high traffic density.

Lead is used in petrol to improveits octane rating. In most of theindustrialised world and in somedeveloping countries, steps have been taken to cut downthe lead content in petrol. Countries like Sweden and theUS have even succeeded in removing most of it.

However, the scenario is vastly different in India. Letalone initiating steps to remove lead, we have not evenseriously thought about the problem. Lead disrupts someenzymes that are useful to the functioning of the brainand other cells. Though lead in the blood can beremoved, the lead that is absorbed in a child's brainremains there forever. But research in the US in the past10 years has conclusively proved that even a low level oflead in the blood can lead to mental retardation andlearning disabilities among children.

In the '70s, if one decilitre of blood contained 30micrograms of lead, it was considered to be a case of leadpoisoning. Later, 25 micrograms were considered unsafeand now, research shows that even 10 micrograms maybe unsafe. We will have to keep in mind that these. levelsare 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' Councilorganised a campaign to educate the citizens of Mysoreon the hazards of lead in petrol. About 10,000 pamphletswere distributed and newspapers gave extensive coverage to the campaign. Motorists were requested not to buypetrol for one day. They were also asked to participate ina silent march through the city.

However, only five persons participated in thedemonstration. 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 inCalcutta 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 didnot cooperate.
Activism paysDespite having similar problems, how did other countries succeed? Sweden was the first country to introduceunleaded petrol. After a few years, despite strong objections from the refining industry, the US took steps to banleaded petrol. Since the mid '80s, western Europe andJapan have succeeded in reducing the lead content inpetrol. In all these countries, environmentalists played akey role in convincing the government to enact laws toremove lead from petrol.

In India, all refineries are owned and operated by thegovernment. Yet, we are unable to take the right decisions. For industrialised countries, the cost of removinglead 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 milliontonnes. To convert all of it into unleaded petrol wouldCost 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.