RMMA Director Paul Anslow changes his tune
October 12, 2023
"Six months ago, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport Director Paul Anslow didn’t want to talk about leaded fuel. Facing growing concerns from nearby residents about the potential health effects of airborne lead emissions from planes, Anslow said he had “zero control” over the issue." A Colorado airport said it was powerless to stop using leaded fuel. After a public outcry, it’s racing to get rid of it.
For years RMMA Director Paul Anslow repeatedly rebutted allegations that leaded fuel is a problem or that he has any authority to change the situation. But, that was then and this is now. Last week RMMA announced it is moving to offer unleaded fuel.
What changed? The answer: residents made sufficient noise. Dr. Boutelle created a powerful presentation, which he gave to the Superior Board of Trustees and the Westminster City Council, with irrefutable evidence of lead in Rock Creek homes and people, including an infant.
Is Director Anslow incompetent or negligent? Does it matter?
"Six months ago, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport Director Paul Anslow didn’t want to talk about leaded fuel. Facing growing concerns from nearby residents about the potential health effects of airborne lead emissions from planes, Anslow said he had “zero control” over the issue." A Colorado airport said it was powerless to stop using leaded fuel. After a public outcry, it’s racing to get rid of it.
For years RMMA Director Paul Anslow repeatedly rebutted allegations that leaded fuel is a problem or that he has any authority to change the situation. But, that was then and this is now. Last week RMMA announced it is moving to offer unleaded fuel.
What changed? The answer: residents made sufficient noise. Dr. Boutelle created a powerful presentation, which he gave to the Superior Board of Trustees and the Westminster City Council, with irrefutable evidence of lead in Rock Creek homes and people, including an infant.
Is Director Anslow incompetent or negligent? Does it matter?
| To Superior Board of Trustees, Lead in Aviation Fuel |
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport to offer unleaded fuel
October 5, 2023
Activism has made a difference!
On October 4, 2023, RMMA announced, to great fanfare, that it was moving to offer unleaded fuel. Northern Colorado residents welcome a growing airport's plan to offer unleaded fuel. Jefferson County airport announces full shift to unleaded fuel by 2027 - reducing contamination for neighborhoods.
This is a 180 degree change from the message consistently conveyed by RMMA Director Paul Anslow in prior statements. Director Anslow has repeatedly affirmed that leaded fuel is not the problem that residents make it out to be. He has also repeatedly asserted that he has no authority to make any change.
But today is a new day.
“We’re going to know for a fact that we’re using a fuel that’s not damaging the environment that leaded fuel did, not damaging the possible growth of young children,” he said. “I think in the end it’s the right thing to do. It’s going to be good for everybody.”
This is great news and shows that residents can make a difference. This would not have happened without residents donating their time and resources to persisently band together and complain.
What does this really mean?
You wouldn't think eliminating leaded fuel would be controversial, but today it is. Unbelievably, in July 2023, the US House of Representatives voted to force airports to offer leaded fuel. To read more see, Lead in aviation fuel.
Here are some things this RMMA announcement does NOT mean:
This RMMA announcement DOES mean:
The FAA and the industry have nearly 30 years of history dragging their feet regarding eliminating leaded from avgas. Prior efforts have started and failed. Why should we think it will be different today? See Lead in aviation fuel for the sad history.
Unleaded fuel is also damaging to the environment
To be clear, unleaded fuel is not a panacea in any way:
“Evidence is accumulating that unleaded fuel could be more damaging than leaded. Unleaded fuel may be causing new waves of cancer and making a profound contribution to environmental degradation. While declines in the amount of lead in the air are positive, the alternative to lead is not pretty either. Unleaded petrol costs more to make than leaded fuel, results in the use of more oil and creates more pollution, because of the aromatics.
Unleaded fuel is 50% aromatic additives — they are the replacements for lead. They are dimethylbenzene, mesitylene, toluene, xylene and benzene. Each is a carcinogen. They are called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Tests at the Institute of Oncology in Bologna, Italy, found that fuel additives benzene, toluene and xylene produced cancerous tumors when ingested or inhaled. Benzene is particularly harmful, and is linked with childhood leukemia.
Recent statistics from Sweden in 1993-4 show that service station workers had unexpectedly high rates of leukemia. Unleaded fuel being pumped into a tank releases aromatic compounds. You are at high risk from benzene and other VOCs at the service station. It is most important to avoid inhaling petrol fumes at the service station and at home.” Unleaded petrol: a solution or a problem?
Activism has made a difference!
On October 4, 2023, RMMA announced, to great fanfare, that it was moving to offer unleaded fuel. Northern Colorado residents welcome a growing airport's plan to offer unleaded fuel. Jefferson County airport announces full shift to unleaded fuel by 2027 - reducing contamination for neighborhoods.
This is a 180 degree change from the message consistently conveyed by RMMA Director Paul Anslow in prior statements. Director Anslow has repeatedly affirmed that leaded fuel is not the problem that residents make it out to be. He has also repeatedly asserted that he has no authority to make any change.
But today is a new day.
“We’re going to know for a fact that we’re using a fuel that’s not damaging the environment that leaded fuel did, not damaging the possible growth of young children,” he said. “I think in the end it’s the right thing to do. It’s going to be good for everybody.”
This is great news and shows that residents can make a difference. This would not have happened without residents donating their time and resources to persisently band together and complain.
What does this really mean?
You wouldn't think eliminating leaded fuel would be controversial, but today it is. Unbelievably, in July 2023, the US House of Representatives voted to force airports to offer leaded fuel. To read more see, Lead in aviation fuel.
Here are some things this RMMA announcement does NOT mean:
- It does not mean leaded fuel will not be offered at RMMA. It will very likely continue to be offered.
- It does not mean pilots renting at or using RMMA will be required to use unleaded fuel.
This RMMA announcement DOES mean:
- Pilots will be allowed to fly whatever aircraft they like using whatever fuel they wish. They may choose unleaded fuel if they wish, or not.
The FAA and the industry have nearly 30 years of history dragging their feet regarding eliminating leaded from avgas. Prior efforts have started and failed. Why should we think it will be different today? See Lead in aviation fuel for the sad history.
Unleaded fuel is also damaging to the environment
To be clear, unleaded fuel is not a panacea in any way:
“Evidence is accumulating that unleaded fuel could be more damaging than leaded. Unleaded fuel may be causing new waves of cancer and making a profound contribution to environmental degradation. While declines in the amount of lead in the air are positive, the alternative to lead is not pretty either. Unleaded petrol costs more to make than leaded fuel, results in the use of more oil and creates more pollution, because of the aromatics.
Unleaded fuel is 50% aromatic additives — they are the replacements for lead. They are dimethylbenzene, mesitylene, toluene, xylene and benzene. Each is a carcinogen. They are called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Tests at the Institute of Oncology in Bologna, Italy, found that fuel additives benzene, toluene and xylene produced cancerous tumors when ingested or inhaled. Benzene is particularly harmful, and is linked with childhood leukemia.
Recent statistics from Sweden in 1993-4 show that service station workers had unexpectedly high rates of leukemia. Unleaded fuel being pumped into a tank releases aromatic compounds. You are at high risk from benzene and other VOCs at the service station. It is most important to avoid inhaling petrol fumes at the service station and at home.” Unleaded petrol: a solution or a problem?
| To Superior Board of Trustees, Lead in Aviation Fuel |
Report from the Rock Creek neighborhood in Superior
May 21, 2021, Rock Creek infant lead exposure case may be due to RMMA operations
Rock Creek sits at the west end of the runway at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, RMMA. This neighborhood is directly under the RMMA touch and go pattern. As many as 16 piston-engine airplanes, burning leaded avgas, have flown this loop at a time.
In Spring of 2022, nine Rock Creek families had thier homes tested for lead, each in two separate locations in the homes. All 18 samples came back positive for lead.
Later, a four month old baby in the Rock Creek neighborhood tested positive for high blood lead levels, 3.5 μg/dL. This child had lived in Rock Creek for the past 3 months, directly under the touch and go loop. There is evidence the baby was not affected before moving into the home. The house was built in 2001, so there is no lead in paint or pipes. This neighborhood was not affected by the fire. It is extremely likely the lead came from the airplane traffic.
The excellent presentation below, "Lead Aviation Fuel", given on March 13, 2023 to the Superior Board of Trustees caused the Trustees to contact RMMA asking them to stop using leaded fuel. The lead particles emitted from these planes are much smaller than those emitted from leaded automotive fuel before it was banned in 1996. Thus avgas particles are harder to filter and much more able to penetrate mucosal barriers in the lung and penetrate cells deeper in the body. For this reason, avgas has higher lead toxicity than automotive leaded fuel.
2.0 ug/dL is quantifiable test scores and development deficiencies. Every 1.0ug/dL is 1 reduction of IQ scores and associated behavior effects.
The author of the Reid-Hillview study (see Lead), Dr. Zahran, compares Reid-Hillview airport to the Flint Water Crisis (FWC). He reports a pre-crisis basline of 2.3 μg/dL, and says, "At the height of the Flint Water Crisis, child BLLs surged over pre-crisis levels by an estimated 0.35 to 0.45 μg/dL. Under periods of high piston-engine aircraft traffic, children proximate to Reid-Hillview Airport experience an increase in BLLs excess of what the children of Flint experienced during the FWC. Because negative cognitive and behavioral outcomes in lead-exposed children are higher at lower blood lead levels – the dose-response is non-linear – limiting exposure to lead-formulated aviation gasoline can deliver sizable and lasting social benefits." To summarize, Dr. Zahron is concerned about values in the 3.0 μg/dL range.
Why is this even an issue today? As the WHO says, "Lead exposure is preventable."
Rock Creek sits at the west end of the runway at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, RMMA. This neighborhood is directly under the RMMA touch and go pattern. As many as 16 piston-engine airplanes, burning leaded avgas, have flown this loop at a time.
In Spring of 2022, nine Rock Creek families had thier homes tested for lead, each in two separate locations in the homes. All 18 samples came back positive for lead.
Later, a four month old baby in the Rock Creek neighborhood tested positive for high blood lead levels, 3.5 μg/dL. This child had lived in Rock Creek for the past 3 months, directly under the touch and go loop. There is evidence the baby was not affected before moving into the home. The house was built in 2001, so there is no lead in paint or pipes. This neighborhood was not affected by the fire. It is extremely likely the lead came from the airplane traffic.
The excellent presentation below, "Lead Aviation Fuel", given on March 13, 2023 to the Superior Board of Trustees caused the Trustees to contact RMMA asking them to stop using leaded fuel. The lead particles emitted from these planes are much smaller than those emitted from leaded automotive fuel before it was banned in 1996. Thus avgas particles are harder to filter and much more able to penetrate mucosal barriers in the lung and penetrate cells deeper in the body. For this reason, avgas has higher lead toxicity than automotive leaded fuel.
2.0 ug/dL is quantifiable test scores and development deficiencies. Every 1.0ug/dL is 1 reduction of IQ scores and associated behavior effects.
The author of the Reid-Hillview study (see Lead), Dr. Zahran, compares Reid-Hillview airport to the Flint Water Crisis (FWC). He reports a pre-crisis basline of 2.3 μg/dL, and says, "At the height of the Flint Water Crisis, child BLLs surged over pre-crisis levels by an estimated 0.35 to 0.45 μg/dL. Under periods of high piston-engine aircraft traffic, children proximate to Reid-Hillview Airport experience an increase in BLLs excess of what the children of Flint experienced during the FWC. Because negative cognitive and behavioral outcomes in lead-exposed children are higher at lower blood lead levels – the dose-response is non-linear – limiting exposure to lead-formulated aviation gasoline can deliver sizable and lasting social benefits." To summarize, Dr. Zahron is concerned about values in the 3.0 μg/dL range.
Why is this even an issue today? As the WHO says, "Lead exposure is preventable."
| To Superior Board of Trustees, Lead in Aviation Fuel |
April 18, 2023 Superior Board of Trustees letter to FAA and JeffCo Commissioners re: RMMA's leaded avgas
At a recent presentation to the Board of Trustees the Trustees learned that 18 out of 18 samples from 9 homes in the Rock Creek neighborhead tested positive for lead. This neighborhood is at the west end of Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) runway. Flight school and recreational traffic loops over this neighborhood all day, every day.
Consequently, the Board sent a letter to the FAA and some Jefferson County Commissioners. Note that RMMA is in Jefferson County, however the vast majority of their traffic is out and back traffic that flies over Boulder County.
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"We, the Superior Board of Trustees, write to formally request that you make unleaded aviation gasoline (“avgas”) available and phase out leaded avgas from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) as expeditiously as possible."
"Recently, nine members of the Superior community had their homes tested for lead and all 18 samples, two per household, have come back positive.The EPA has known for decades that lead air pollution and its impacts on communities constitute a public health crisis. Almost fifty years ago, the EPA recognized lead as a known toxic substance and found that airborne lead was contributing to excessive lead exposures among children.
At a recent presentation to the Board of Trustees the Trustees learned that 18 out of 18 samples from 9 homes in the Rock Creek neighborhead tested positive for lead. This neighborhood is at the west end of Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) runway. Flight school and recreational traffic loops over this neighborhood all day, every day.
Consequently, the Board sent a letter to the FAA and some Jefferson County Commissioners. Note that RMMA is in Jefferson County, however the vast majority of their traffic is out and back traffic that flies over Boulder County.
flightvflightflightflight
"We, the Superior Board of Trustees, write to formally request that you make unleaded aviation gasoline (“avgas”) available and phase out leaded avgas from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) as expeditiously as possible."
"Recently, nine members of the Superior community had their homes tested for lead and all 18 samples, two per household, have come back positive.The EPA has known for decades that lead air pollution and its impacts on communities constitute a public health crisis. Almost fifty years ago, the EPA recognized lead as a known toxic substance and found that airborne lead was contributing to excessive lead exposures among children.
| superior_b_of_t_letter_to_faa_jeffco_comms.pdf |