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Leaded gas used in small airplanes is commonly referred to as “avgas.” It is the single largest source of lead emissions in the country. (Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock)
Press Release July 20, 2023

Congress Must Not Enable More Lead Poisoning in Our Communities

Both versions of the FAA Reauthorization would require airports to continue providing leaded avgas, despite recent EPA progress to phase out its use

Press Release: Victory October 7, 2022

EPA proposes “endangerment finding” of leaded aviation gasoline

Proposal marks first official step to regulating leaded aviation fuel, the top cause of lead in the air in the country 

Press Release July 29, 2022

Earthjustice praises Congressional oversight of lead in aviation fuel

Most lead air pollution in the country comes from piston-engine aircrafts

Press Release: Victory January 12, 2022

EPA commits to regulating lead in aviation gasoline

Most lead air pollution in the country comes from piston-engine aircrafts

Press Release October 28, 2021

EPA’s draft lead strategy is a positive start but lacks concrete commitments

As children across the country are drinking and breathing lead, EPA must take concrete steps

Document October 12, 2021

Joint EPA Letter: Leaded Aviation Gasoline

57 organizations and 146 medical professionals, professors, advocates, and other individuals submit letter in support of the October 12, 2021 updated petition, originally submitted on August 24, 2021, of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Center for Environmental Health, Friends of the Earth, Montgomery-Gibbs Environmental Coalition, and Oregon Aviation Watch, and by the County of Santa Clara, California and the Town of Middleton, Wisconsin, petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to make an endangerment finding under section 231 of the Clean Air Act that leaded aviation gasoline contributes to air pollution that harms public health and welfare.

Document October 12, 2021

Petition: EPA Regulate Leaded Aviation Gasoline

The undersigned organizations hereby submit this updated petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to make an endangerment finding under section 231 of the Clean Air Act that leaded aviation gasoline contributes to air pollution that harms public health and welfare.

In the News: Grist August 24, 2021

The EPA may finally reckon with aviation’s dirty secret: leaded fuel

Jonathan Smith, Attorney, Community Partnerships Program, Earthjustice: “It’s unconscionable to think about the hundreds of thousands of children that have been exposed to lead over all of these years from airport activity.”

Press Release August 24, 2021

Groups Ask EPA to Regulate Lead Pollution Around Nation’s Airports

Most airborne lead in the U.S. comes from aircraft, yet EPA refuses to regulate toxic additive

Document August 23, 2021

Top 100 Lead Polluting Airports

Top 100 Lead-polluting Airports

Document January 27, 2015

EPA Response Letter to AVGAS Petition

A response to a petition filed by environmental groups urging the agency to address lead emissions from aviation gasoline –– the largest source of airborne lead emissions in the country

Document January 27, 2015

EPA Airport Lead Monitoring Program Summary

The lead monitoring program summary that accompanied EPA's response letter to the AvGas petition

Leaded gas used in small airplanes (commonly referred to as “avgas”) is the single largest source of lead emissions in the country.
(DARRYL BROOKS / SHUTTERSTOCK)
Press Release January 27, 2015

Coalition Statement on EPA’s Response to Address Aviation Lead Pollution

EPA issues a response to a petition filed by environmental groups urging the agency to address lead emissions from aviation gasoline—the largest source of airborne lead emissions in the country

Leaded gas used in small airplanes (commonly referred to as “avgas”) is the single largest source of lead emissions in the country.
(DARRYL BROOKS / SHUTTERSTOCK)
Article July 2, 2014

The Right to Know Reader: EPA Still Allowing Use of Toxic Lead

Earthjustice is working to enact stronger protections from these toxic chemicals for our families, communities and the environment because everyone has a right to know the truth about harmful toxins.

Document April 21, 2014

Petition for Reconsideration

Friends of the Earth, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Oregon Aviation Watch, represented by Earthjustice, asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take action to address harms caused by lead emissions generated by the continued use of leaded aviation gasoline (avgas).

Press Release April 21, 2014

Groups Press EPA to Address Toxic Lead Air Pollution from Aviation Gasoline

Evidence linking ill-health, especially in children, to airborne lead emissions mounts as EPA fails to act

Document June 19, 2013

San Carlos Airport: Lead Monitoring

Document June 19, 2013

San Diego: Lead Monitoring