Is it Luddite to decry the use of automatic transmissions in vehicles?

Interesting observation. Evidently no one knows what the top source of lead poisoning may be. Avgas is widely attributed as causing about half of the lead pollution as of about 2012 Does the Continued Use of Lead in Aviation Fuel Endanger Public Health and the Environment?: Scientific American

According to another source about 200,000 helicopters and airplanes use leaded fuel.

One group sued recently to get the EPA to remove lead from avgas.
Aviation Fuel's Toxic Lead Emissions Draws Lawsuit Against EPA and this is what motivated the EPA to begin to study the issue of lead levels near airports where avgas is sold.

Accordingly a 2011 Duke University study found that kids living within 500 meters of an airport where leaded avgas is used have higher blood lead levels than other children, with elevated lead levels in blood found in kids as far as one kilometer away.

More than 3 million children attend school in close proximity to the some 20,000 airports where avgas may be used. I didn't find a statement of how many adults live in proximity to these 20,000 airports.

Who woulda thought? According to Larry, anything that Larry does is good and proper. Problem behavior in the world rests with people other than Larry.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Honestly, if Dumberica's retarded import regulations were relaxed, I wouldn't give an aerial wank, since I could still import whatever I like from Europe for the cost of shipping.

As it stands, the stupidity of the average American buyer limits MY choices, since automakers often only homologate the version with the autotragic transmission since there's considered to be no market for the real version in the US.

And yes, I'm just as opposed to regulation of general aviation.

I don't come down here much anymore unless I'm looking for some comedic material and my old buddy see-mac seldom disappoints....

Dude got any mirrors on hand out there in California? Get your hands on one turn it in your direction and take a good hard look and then remember the old biblical quote 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone' Sorry if the religious reference offends you.

Your myopia is truly stunning.

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98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (137K)
13 GLK250 (157k)
06 E320CDI (341K)
16 C300 (89K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

Tim, again, says nothing beyond generic insults. Your wondering if a biblical reference would offend me indicates how few of my posts you've actually read, at least with any nod towards discernment. I'm fond of many sayings from the bible.

Do you have some logical argument against what I've said? Peace and quiet is a precious commodity. More and more rare in modern life. The average fool on his Harley, or in his small plane, is focused on his adrenaline rush and general satisfaction. The fact that his pleasure seeking damages peace and quiet for untold numbers around him is of no concern.

Is this a great country or what?

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

You do realize that lead POLLUTION is not the same thing as lead POISONING, right? Show me a case of actual lead poisoning directly related to AVGAS, if you can find one.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

It is a great country. One of the reasons why is that you can choose to live where you want. And if you want peace and quiet, they are abundant out in the boondocks.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

Nah man, that's not the way it works.

If I put in a 24/7 manuf. operation next door to you, you would call the law. The issue is where to draw the lines. The consensus on that will be in flux pretty much from now on.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

While I claim no expertise on the topic, any number of sources I read agree. If you (or anyone else) searched the issue you’d find that no reasonable authority considers there to be a safe amount of lead exposure. In other words according to those who consider themselves authorities on the topic, there is no amount of lead that is too small to cause the body harm.

Is something that causes the body harm a reasonable definition of poisoning? That is probably a good question and I don’t know the answer.

That said, accordingly, the CDC defines elevated blood level for lead for adults to be 10 (µg/dl) of whole blood. For children, the number is set at 5 (µg/dl) (by the way, “µg/dl” = micrograms per deciliter). It seems that children have a greater sensitivity to brain and other anomalies resulting from lead pollution/poisoning than do adults, and that’s the reasoning for the differing lead levels to be considered “elevated.”

This will provide you with an overview of lead toxicity. Lead poisoning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia There are many other sources that go into more or less detail.

So draw your own conclusion, but i conclude that what the CDC calls an elevated level of lead to safely demonstrate the owner of said blood is experiencing lead poisoning.

If you review my post above you’ll find a reference to a significant number of people with elevated lead levels who live near airports which use avgas. One of the articles I read indicated that at some airports which sell avgas can deliver up to 500 or 1000 lbs. of lead a day (iirc) into the air proximate to the airport. Lead doesn’t float very long and that’s likely why people tested up to a mile away the subject airports showed elevated blood levels of lead.

BTW, I’m most impressed by your ability to type in caps.

I read your links. Lead from AVGAS may be a slight problem. Switching to the unleaded variety or widespread use of STC's to use automotive fuel might not be such a bad idea.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I hate to admit, this is the first I'd heard of small planes still using leaded fuel. A bit surprising as I suspect that the moving of auto fuel to lead free was done by govt. mandate.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I get my lead levels tested once a year because I reload and shoot a lot. nO prbloems sfar.i r OKaY.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Because of catalytic converters, not because of the lead itself. Aircraft engines aren't required to have cats, and many of them are 30+ years old anyway.

Had our daughter's lead levels tested regularly when she was young since we live in an old house. I'm under the impression that most dangerously high lead levels in children come from living in old houses surrounded by dirt and not grass. Children playing in the dirt pick up all the lead which is deposited from the air or from paint chips from the house.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13