That video clip reverses decades of understanding of why lead was, AT THAT TIME, removed from gas. And I don't buy it.
The issue at that time to remove lead, that been in gas for 60? years, was cats could not tolerate it.
Everybody knew then lead had a health risk, but seemed to grudgingly accept it.
It has been decades of no lead, that has proven, to me, it was also.a wise health decision.
So the EPA played a part in removing Lead, the Superbird did not, unless there is some evidence of cats for testing on this car, which makes little sense anyway.
As a mopar guy, and a history guy, aaaand an environmental profession guy I found this article and video pretty amazing. Apparently shortly after developing tetraethyl lead (TEL), the inventor had to take months off for lead poisoning treatment. I'd be curious to know more about the health risk vs catalytic converter (for a bit there I thought you were saying felines couldn't tolerate it LOL) concerns. I do know that the TEL industry had a major political lobbying and marketing power. If the car was really was part of the first efforts to test particulate emissions I could easily see that work showing WAY higher actual levels of lead than the TEL industry had told the government and aviation/auto industries would be coming out in exhaust.
