AN all-party group of MPs last week rejected claims that super unleaded petrol should be banned because it gives off the carcinogenic chemical benzene.
Associated Octel, which manufactures lead additives for petrol, argues that drivers of high-performance cars should switch back to leaded four-star petrol because super unleaded contains large quantities of aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene.
However, in its report on emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the House of Commons environment committee says: 鈥淏oth lead and benzene are undesirable pollutants and their concentrations in air should be reduced as far as is reasonably achievable.鈥�
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Arguing that 鈥渂oth four-star and super unleaded are environmentally undesirable fuels鈥�, the MPs called for super unleaded petrol to be phased out by 2004, and for motor manufacturers to stop making cars which operate best on this type of fuel.
The MPs also criticised the oil companies for providing almost no information about the chemical content of petrol. Claiming that the companies have 鈥渘ever [produced] real analytical data鈥�, the MPs want the government to study ways of publicising the composition of petrol so that drivers can judge the environmental effects of different types of petrol.
The MPs make nearly 70 detailed recommendations aimed at cutting pollution from VOCs and the consequent production of ozone low down in the atmosphere. They include a series of recommendations aimed at curbing the use of cars and promoting alternatives such as public transport and cycling, which echo proposals in last year鈥檚 report from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.