asked the Minister for the Environment if any steps have been taken, or will be taken, to ascertain the exact lead content of the petrol used in this country; if this lead content is injurious to health; and, if so, if there are any plans in hand to reduce the content.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lead Content in Petrol.
23.
The European Communities (Lead Content of Petrol) Regulations, 1980, made on 9 December 1980 prescribe a maximum permitted lead content in petrol of 0.64 grammes per litre. These regulations give effect to the EEC Council Directive of 29 June 1978 on the lead content of petrol. The directive stipulates a maximum content of 0.40 grammes per litre in the EEC generally but allows for the placing on the market here, during the period of five years commencing on 1 January 1981 of petrol having a lead content greater than 0.40 grammes per litre without, however, exceeding a content of 0.64 grammes per litre. This derogation was allowed because of the technical and economic problems which the immediate implementation of the lower limit would have created for the Whitegate Oil Refinery.
The lead content of petrol is now monitored by the Department of Industry and Energy. The results so far indicate lead levels in no case exceeding 0.40 grammes of lead per litre. At present all our petrol is imported from other EEC countries and complies with the minimum standard of 0.40 grammes per litre.
My Department maintain contact with the Department of Health in regard to the implications of environmental lead for human health. The view of that Department is that, while they would favour any reduction of lead in the environment, the results of tests for lead in blood carried out by them, as well as the general level of lead in air as revealed by monitoring in Dublin, do not indicate any cause for alarm at present. The matter is being kept under continuing review.
While I am pleased to hear that the situation does not give cause for alarm at this stage, would the Minister agree that the lead content in the air in the Dublin area is unacceptable? What steps are the Department taking, in co-operation with the Department of Energy, to reduce the lead content of the petrol coming from Whitegate?
That is a matter for the Department of Energy. While any level of lead content is unacceptable from a health point of view we should be careful not to give the impression that for some reason the Dublin area is dangerous in this regard. The monitoring that has been undertaken in Dame Street and in O'Connell Street has shown that the levels are not dangerous.
I am sure the Minister is aware that recent reports of surveys in this connection have shown that in some of the inner city school areas there is a considerable level of lead content in the air compared with the suburbs. Is it the intention of the Minister to take any action to reduce the lead content in the air in the inner city area which is deprived so much in other ways?
There is nothing in my file to suggest that that is the case. Any information that the Deputy has on the matter would be welcome in my Department but I am not aware of any difference in the lead content in the inner city area compared with other areas.
The reports were published only within the past couple of weeks but they have been discussed on radio and television.
I shall look into this matter but at the same time we should be careful not to begin frightening people in this regard.
If the Minister is not aware of the surveys to which I refer perhaps he would acquaint himself with them and take whatever action is necessary to deal with the problem.
There are only two monitoring centres in central Dublin for recording levels of lead content and both of these have consistently recorded levels below the proposed EEC standards.
0.64.
It does not exceed the EEC level of 0.4.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.