A 2024 study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal found a link between living near airports and elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in children under six in North Carolina. The research, building on earlier work, analyzed 943,602 children's BLLs living within 10 kilometers of airports in 100 counties. The study confirmed a significant adverse effect of leaded aviation fuel (avgas) used by piston-engine aircraft on children's health. This is the fifth study to report such findings, echoing earlier research, such as a 2011 North Carolina study and a 2021 report on Reid-Hillview Airport in California, which also linked avgas to increased BLLs. In 2023, the EPA took initial steps to regulate avgas under the Clean Air Act.

The article also reviewed prior studies showing similar results in Michigan, Colorado, and North Carolina, emphasizing the serious, long-lasting effects of lead exposure on children’s cognitive and behavioral development.

Researchers advocate for more comprehensive blood testing and regulatory action to mitigate this public health risk.

Read the full article here:

https://oregonaviationwatch.org/index.php#NCStudyFindsElevatedBLLs