Lead is one of the most toxic substances that large populations around the world are exposed to from the exhaust gases of vehicles and other sources. However, reviewing the experience of a number of countries with the phaseout of lead from gasoline, this report points out that lead phaseout is a complex issue that requires political commitment, cross-sectoral cooperation, incentive policies, and an understanding of consumers and the public. Roads often bring significant economic and social benefits, but they can also have substantial negative impacts on communities and the natural environment. As we become more aware of these impacts, there is a growing demand for the techniques and skills needed to incorporate environmental considerations into road planning and management. It has been substantially revised and modified based on user feedback, field experience and intensive review of recent international literature, while maintaining its balance between conciseness and comprehensive coverage of the issues.
Air pollution is an important public health problem in most cities of the developing world.
Pollution levels in megacities such as Bangkok, Cairo, Delhi and Mexico City exceed those in any city in the industrialized countries. Epidemiological studies show that air pollution in developing countries accounts for tens of thousands of excess deaths and billions of dollars in medical costs and lost productivity every year. These losses, and the associated degradation in quality of life, impose a significant burden on people in all sectors of society, but especially the poor. Hence, cleaner gasoline and diesel fuels can play a major role in improving air quality. A major advantage in using cleaner conventional fuels is that they can begin to reduce pollutant emissions immediately whereas vehicle emissions control need to be phased in with the turnover in the vehicle fleet.