News

Unveiling the Health Impacts of Leaded Aviation Fuel

Dr. Robert Boutelle is a particle scientist who has authored procedures for working with lead nano materials.  On August 31, 2024, Dr. Boutelle gave a talk about the health impacts of lead in aviation fuel.   Piston engine aircraft, like those using Boulder Airport, burn this fuel.   

In 2022, Boulder Airport sold $110,000 worth of leaded aviation fuel.   This contained 488.4 pounds of lead.   On burning, 95% of the lead in aviation fuel is emitted in the form of dust nanoparticles.

A May 2024 Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment study shows that proximity to an airport has a statistically significant effect on blood lead levels of children.  It says, "results suggest the potential impact on children’s blood lead levels is greatest at distance less than 2 miles from an airport location.”   This talk provide images showing homes, schools, and daycares located within this radius of Boulder Airport.  

Other highlights from the talk: 

  • The link between children’s blood lead levels and proximity to airports is clearly established
  • There are three risk factors from exposure:
    • duration of exposure,  
    • amount of the toxin to create an impact, and  
    • bodily response 
  • Lead from avgas exposure is bad across all three risk factors:  
    • the exposure is continuous,  
    • only a tiny amount causes a negative impact,  
    • it is particularly absorbable by the body and difficult to detoxify 
  • Even tiny amounts of lead can permanently impact a child’s ability, potential and future  earnings 
  • The risk from an airport can be comparable to and at times worse than the Flint Water Crisis
  • Children’s blood lead levels correlate with both fuel sales and proximity to an airport 
  • Many Boulder city and county residents live within two miles of Boulder Airport 
  • There are schools and childcare centers within two miles of Boulder Airport 
  • Due to the constant exposure and tiny particle size, it is very difficult to mitigate for lead emitted from avgas  
  • Leaded aviation fuel will not be gone in 2030
  • HEPA filters can filter for COVID, but not lead particles from avgas
  • Unveiling the Health Impacts of Leaded Aviation Fuel

    Dr. Robert Boutelle is a particle scientist who has authored procedures for working with lead nano materials.  On August 31, 2024, Dr. Boutelle gave a talk about the health impacts of lead in aviation fuel.   Piston engine aircraft, like those using Boulder Airport, burn this fuel.   

    In 2022, Boulder Airport sold $110,000 worth of leaded aviation fuel.   This contained 488.4 pounds of lead.   On burning, 95% of the lead in aviation fuel is emitted in the form of dust nanoparticles.

    A May 2024 Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment study shows that proximity to an airport has a statistically significant effect on blood lead levels of children.  It says, "results suggest the potential impact on children’s blood lead levels is greatest at distance less than 2 miles from an airport location.”   This talk provide images showing homes, schools, and daycares located within this radius of Boulder Airport.  

    Other highlights from the talk: 

    • The link between children’s blood lead levels and proximity to airports is clearly established
    • There are three risk factors from exposure:
      • duration of exposure,  
      • amount of the toxin to create an impact, and  
      • bodily response 
    • Lead from avgas exposure is bad across all three risk factors:  
      • the exposure is continuous,  
      • only a tiny amount causes a negative impact,  
      • it is particularly absorbable by the body and difficult to detoxify 
    • Even tiny amounts of lead can permanently impact a child’s ability, potential and future  earnings 
    • The risk from an airport can be comparable to and at times worse than the Flint Water Crisis
    • Children’s blood lead levels correlate with both fuel sales and proximity to an airport 
    • Many Boulder city and county residents live within two miles of Boulder Airport 
    • There are schools and childcare centers within two miles of Boulder Airport 
    • Due to the constant exposure and tiny particle size, it is very difficult to mitigate for lead emitted from avgas  
    • Leaded aviation fuel will not be gone in 2030
    • HEPA filters can filter for COVID, but not lead particles from avgas
  • Council Member Benjamin's comments versus the real problem at Boulder Airport

    Boulder City Council Member Matt Benjamin, a pilot and ardent Boulder airport supporter, is entitled to his opinion about the future of the airport site. However, he is not entitled to lie to his constituents, as he did at the August 15, 2024 City Council meeting.

    Is Council Member Benjamin trying to distract from the real environmental justice issue happening right now at the Boulder airport?

  • The City of Boulder is Suing the FAA

    July 27, 2024

    On Friday, 07.26.24 City of Boulder filed a lawsuit against the FAA.  In it the City said it has “stopped accepting grants - and has elected to carry the considerable cost of operating the Airport on it’s own - in order that it may lawfully close the Airport when it’s most recent grant agreement expires in 2040.”   The City claims the FAA’s claim that the airport "must operate in perpetuity" is inconsistent with the grant agreements and a constitutional overreach.   The City asks the court to:

    • declare early grant agreements as expired, and the FAA has no continuing interest under them
    • declare the FAA's policy as unconstitutional
    • render the FAA's position as constitutionally invalid and violation of Due Process

    Boulder v. FAA Complaint

  • No one likes recommendations of airport financial analysis

    July 27, 2024

    Here’s something on which both ourselves and airport supporters can agree - EVERYONE is unhappy with the recommendations from the airport financial analysis

    Both sides feel that further development of the airport in order to meet funding needs is wrong, but for different reasons.  Both sides cite unwanted increases in noise and environmental impacts.  Beyond this, our reasoning differs.

    See below for our position, a “Minimal and Safe Airport Until Closure” Scenario, where aviation pays it own way to the extent feasible, " as well as alternative possibilities for funding the airport until closure.

  • City Council defers decisions on Boulder Airport

    July 25, 2024

    With Airport Neighborhood Campaign initiatives to be decided by voters in November, we are grateful that at their Special Meeting on July 25, Boulder City Council deferred the decision on whether the Boulder airport should stay open indefinitely or be decommissioned.

    At the meeting the results of the airport financial analysis were discussed.   A consuming issue was years of deferred maintenance at the airport and how to address them.   These exist in spite of airport supporters' assertion that the airport is self-funding.    The tradeoffs and possibilities around increased development, user fees and other revenue strategies were raised.

  • Get the Lead Out! Webinar

    Get the Lead Out: How Santa Clara County Banned Leaded Aviation Fuel at Reid-Hillview Airport, and Why Boulder Should Do the Same

    July 14, 2024


    The ANC was privileged to host a webinar on June 12, 2024 with Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and epidemiologist Dr. Bruce Lamphear. Our guests discussed Santa Clara County's study showing that blood lead levels of children were correleated with living near and downwind of the Reid-Hillview Airport, and Santa Clara County's path to ceasing the sale of leaded aviation fuel.

    Watch the video and get the transcript below...

  • Dinosaur Fire and Boulder Airport

    July 7, 2024

    We do not love the politicization of emergency response. However, emergency response is rightly part of the conversation around closing the airport and it's important for the public to have factual information.

  • Daily Camera Guest opinion: Mark Wallach: Airport land is ours and we should establish our right to do with it as we will

    May 28, 2024

    Daily Camera guest opinion by Mark Wallach

    Mark Wallach is a member of the Boulder City Council writing in his individual capacity.

    This May 28, 2024 Daily Camera piece is a follow up to Wallach’s prior piece about the economics of the airport property and how housing is the highest and best use of the land.   In this piece he discusses FAA opposition to the idea and the myth that we can’t afford to convert the airport due to FAA obligations.

    Wallach also compares this effort to the Muni effort, showing how very different the situations are.  

    Update: On July 26, 2024 Boulder filed a lawsuit against the FAA claiming FAA overreach and asking for clear title to airport property, see The City of Boulder is Suing the FAA.

     

  • Daily Camera Guest opinion: Lisa Morzel: Boulder airport site is the best place to create housing for ‘missing middle’

    May 27, 2024

    Daily Camera Guest Opinion by Lisa Morzel

    Lisa Morzel was a 20-year member of the Boulder City Council, from 1995-2003 and 2007-2019.   

    In this May 27, 2024 Daily Camera piece Morzell describes how Boulder is losing its middle class due to Boulder’s median sales price for homes of $1,300,000.   She reminds us that not long ago “people who worked in Boulder lived here. They participated in civic matters, schools, clubs, service organizations and more.”  

  • Daily Camera Guest opinion: Mark Wallach: What to do with the Boulder airport?

    May 11, 2024

    Daily Camera Guest Opinion by Mark Wallach

    Mark Wallach is a member of the Boulder City Council. He wrote this piece in his personal capacity, not on behalf of the Council.

    In this piece Wallach makes the economic case for converting the airport to neighborhoods.