Testing* Tetraethyl Lead (Leaded Gasoline)
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Background: In 1922 researchers at General Motors discovered that adding tetraethyl lead to gasoline increased engine power and efficiency. In 1926 the U.S. Surgeon General agreed to allow the use of tetraethyl lead in automobile fuels. It took 58 years, several deaths, and thousands of documented cases of lead poisoning, before this policy was reversed with an outright ban on lead additives in gasoline. By the time the ban finally took effect, millions of tons of lead had been released into the atmosphere as a byproduct of automobile exhaust. The environmental and economic impacts of this massive atmospheric contamination over such an extended period of time is staggering. Millions of acres of urban and rural land remain highly contaminated by the lead fallout, and experts believe that dust from this soil is still poisoning people today. Method: LeadCheck® Swabs can be used to test for leaded gasoline residues (tetraethyl lead residues on dry surfaces) by the following method. Activate the Swab by squeezing the barrel of the swab at Point A and Point B. Squeeze the barrel of the swab until yellow liquid appears at the tip of the swab. Rub the surface to be tested while continuing to squeeze the swab slightly to keep the liquid at the tip. If a lead-containing residue is on the surface the tip will turn pink to red within 15 to 30 seconds. Note: Since Hybrivet Systems Inc. has been unable to locate a source for leaded gasoline, this method has been developed with dry residues only. If you have liquid gasoline that you suspect may be leaded, it must first be ignited and burned in a glass container before testing with LeadCheck® Swabs. A 1-5 ml sample of gasoline is recommended for this test. Call Hybrivet Systems, Inc. for further information. * Note: LeadCheck® Swabs are a versatile and sensitive screening tool for the detection of lead on any surface. This applications note provides a suggested method to allow testing for a specific application. Additional information and help are available by calling 800-262-5323 or 508-651-7881.