Leaded Gasoline Flashcards
History of lead pollution
Tetraethyllead(commonly styledtetraethyl lead), abbreviatedTEL, is anorganolead compoundwith the formulaPb(C2H5)4. It is afueladditive, first being mixed withgasolinebeginningin the 1920s as a patentedoctane ratingbooster that allowedengine compressionto be raised substantially. This in turn increased vehicle performance and fuel economy.
Thomas Migley, chemist working for General Motors, is the one who found this additive (he toe many for years).
He knew it was toxic (had himself health issues) but hid it.
Lead is thought to have killed several dozens of millions people. Also heart and brain issues. Thought to have explained surge in violence in the 90’s (because of child exposure).
Lead way less present now (kind of banned since the 70’s) , but still e.g in batteries.
By the way the same guy also found freon (CFCs) to be a good gas for refrigerators. Which also killed many pel2because of ozone hoele (CFCs, hit by UW releases a chlorine atom, which reacts with O3 to Form O2).
