§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the contribution of airborne lead to total body lead burdens; if there is any evidence that these burdens are approaching or have exceeded safety limits; and what medical or environmental studies are currently in progress in the United Kingdom into these problems.
§ Mr. Denis HowellFor most people respiration of airborne lead makes only a small contribution to the total body burden of lead. The Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation have jointly proposed a provisional tolerable overall intake of lead of 3mg per person per week. In the United Kingdom an average person ingests about 1mg of lead per week. Studies are under way to examine circumstances in which people ingest or inhale more than the average quantity of lead.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have been held with oil-refining companies with a view to producing high octane petrol which does not need alkyl lead compounds or additives.
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§ Mr. Denis HowellThe oil companies are consulted regularly in the context of the Government's programme for reducing the lead content of petrol, but the long-term possibility of totally eliminating lead compounds or other additives has not been the subject of discussion.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the average lead content of petrol in the United Kingdom compares with the figures for West Germany, the United States of America, Sweden and Japan; and if he will tabulate the figures in grams per litre.
§ Mr. Denis HowellIt is difficult to compare average figures for lead in petrol since not all countries regulate the lead content of petrol for the same way. Broadly, the following will be the maximum permitted lead contents from 1st January 1978:
Grams per litre United Kingdom 0.45 West Germany 0.15 *United States of America 0.20 Sweden 0.40 Japan 0.31 *Average spread over all petrol sold, including lead free petrol
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of lead in the atmosphere in major cities is accounted for by vehicle exhaust fumes.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe concentration of lead in the atmosphere in cities varies according to the type and magnitude of local sources. Overall, about 90 per cent. of the total quantity of airborne lead derives from petrol.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies are being made of the uptake of lead through the inhalation of car exhausts under controlled conditions; and what results have emerged.
§ Mr. Denis HowellA major study of the deposition of airborne lead in the human lung is continuing at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, under the joint sponsorship of Government and industry. I expect the study to be completed next year and the results will be published.