Improved ambient air quality due to lead in petrol regulation

Abstract The enforcement of the Petrol Lead Law by limiting the maximum lead concentration in petrol from 0.40 g/1 to 0.15 g/1 effective January 1, 1976, led to a decrease of the total lead emission of about 45% in the Federal Republic of Germany. The reduction of the lead concentration in the ambient air is strongly influenced by the motor traffic. The observed, decrease ranges between 65% (main roads, city centers) and 20% (areas under influence of industrial emissions, low traffic).