Abstract
Background
Leaded aviation gasoline (AvGas) accounts for 70%, or 935,082 pounds, of total lead emissions in the United States and has been repeatedly linked to elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in those living in the vicinity of airports using AvGas. The well-established link between lead exposure and adverse health outcomes provided a platform ripe for environmental health advocates and pediatric health experts to assist a local environmental health organization in addressing lead waste from a local airport, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF).
Method
We detail the steps we took, as a physician clean-air advocacy group. We provide a qualitative analysis of our efforts in addressing leaded air pollution through targeted and creative environmental health advocacy through three main avenues: government, public awareness, and academia.
Objectives
Our actions were taken to ensure the City of San Diego installed an unleaded fuel tank at MYF to reduce leaded aviation gasoline usage and subsequently lead air pollution in the surrounding area.
Discussion
Ultimately, the identified objective of an unleaded fuel tank was added to the San Diego City budget and scheduled for construction. We hope our actions can serve as a framework to provide concrete steps for clinicians and other advocates to enact change in their communities.
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Data Availability
The datasets analyzed during the current study are available in the Dataverse repository, https://enviro.epa.gov/enviro/nei.htm?pType=FACILITY&pYear=2017&pWho=NEI&pState=&pState=06&pPollutant=&pPollutant=7439921&pReport=county&pCounty=&pTier=&pSector.
Code Availability
Not applicable.
References
Zahran, S., Iverson, T., McElmurry, S. P., & Weiler, S. (2017). The effect of leaded aviation gasoline on blood lead in children. Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, 4(2), 575–610. https://doi.org/10.1086/691686
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, California Department of Public Health. (2021). Leaded aviation gasoline exposure risk at reid-hillview airport in santa clara county. Retrieved January 24, 2022, from https://news.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb956/files/documents/RHV-Airborne-Lead-Study-Report.pdf
United State Environmental Protection Agency. Data From: 2017 National Emissions Inventory (NEI) Data https://enviro.epa.gov/enviro/nei.htm?pType=FACILITY&pYear=2017&pWho=NEI&pState=&pState=06&pPollutant=&pPollutant=7439921&pReport=county&pCounty=&pTier=&pSector=
Wani, A. L., Ara, A., & Usmani, J. A. (2015). Lead toxicity: A review. Interdisciplinary Toxicology, 8(2), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1515/intox-2015-0009
The Federal Aviation Administration. FAA, Industry Chart Path to Eliminate Lead Emissions from General Aviation by the end of 2030, Retrieved August, 2022 https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-industry-chart-path-eliminate-lead-emissions-general-aviation-end-2030.
Acknowledgements
Great appreciation is offered to Sandra Stahl, the founder of the Montgomery-Gibbs Environmental Coalition, who has since resigned. Our support of this effort and the achievement of the policy goal was only possible with her self-proclaimed “living and breathing fighting” to get unleaded fuel offered at MYF.
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RSG led the writing and, with VTN, participated in all advocacy efforts. EJF critically revised the article. VTN masterminded much of the community involvement and assisted with the writing. SS pioneered advocacy efforts for four years and orchestrated the involvement of the San Diego Pediatricians for Clean Air. RA Ireland assisted with the writing and joined the advocacy efforts.
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Gilbertson, R., Friedman, E., Nguyen, V.T. et al. The Role of Physician Advocacy in Supporting Policy Change That Reduces Leaded Aviation Gasoline Emissions. J Community Health 48, 446–449 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-023-01186-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-023-01186-9