DESPITE widespread apprehensions
about its potential health hazards,
super-unleaded petrol is set to stay in
the UK. In late March, the British govemment rejected the calls bya group of
mps to ban the sale of unleaded petrol,
which accounts for around 6 per cent of
petrol sales in the country. Transport
minister Steven Norris said unequivocally, "If your car can use unleaded fuel,
then do so. If it can't, then take it to your
garage and see if they can make the necessary adjustments."
However, it seems impossible to
wish away the fears about the damaging
effects of super-unleaded petrol. A
transport select committee report suggests that the petrol contains aromatic
substances, like benzene, which ig linked
to cancer. To offset this danger, the government intends to adopt a new target
for ambient benzene levels.
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