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Press Release, City
of Ann Arbor, Michigan March 15, 2004
The City of Ann Arbor has started replacing lead wheel balancing
weights with lead-free alternatives in vehicles that are in the city
fleet. One to two lead wheel weights are applied to tire rims to
balance the wheel for a smooth tide and long tire wear. The City has
joined forces with nonprofit Ecology Center's "Lead-Free Wheels"
program to install zinc and iron weights on city vehicles. The
replacement weights are being supplied to program participants at the
same cost of the lead containing weights currently used.
Lead-free wheel
weights are being used to help protect consumers and the environment
from toxic lead. Recent studies have documented that on average 13% of
wheel weights fall off of vehicles during driving. This amount equates
to nearly 66 tons of weights being deposited on roadways each year in
Michigan. Because of this concern, the European Union Commission has
banned the use of lead wheel weight as of July 2005. Lead-Free Wheels
program organizers are also calling on auto manufacturers and tire
retailers to commit to phasing out the use of lead wheel weights by
July 2005 in the U.S. "We commend the leadership of government fleet
managers," said Jeff Gearhart, of the Ecology Center. "Ann Arbor is
the first city in the country to begin phasing out the use of lead
wheel weights, we expect many cities and states will follow their
lead."
Tom Gibbons, City of Ann Arbor Fleet Manager, agrees, "The transition
to lead-free wheel balancing has been very easy. We're finding that
the weights work as good or better then the lead weights we previously
used. We hope the automakers will move to install lead-free weights on
all new vehicles."
Because lead targets the nervous system, children and fetuses are
especially vulnerable to lead's toxic effect. Lead is easily absorbed
into the growing bodies, interfering with the developing brain and
other organs and systems. Recent studies suggest that loss of
intelligence of children occurs at Blood Lead Levels (BLL) below 10 mG/dL
and raises the question of whether exposure to lead at any level
causes measurable harm to children's brain. The Lead-Free Wheels
Program estimates that over 13 million weights (over 300 tons of lead)
fall off of vehicle wheels per year in the Midwest alone.
Matthew Naud, City of Ann Arbor Environmental Coordinator, "This is a
great example of easy, cost effective action that can have great
environmental benefits. We hope that automaker and tire retailers will
follow our leadership and work to phase-out this use of lead on all
vehicles."
Lead-free weights for the program are being purchased from the top
wheel weight manufacturers, including Perfect Equipment (Tennessee),
Plumco (Montreal) and Dionys Hoffman (Germany).
The Ecology Center is a regional environmental organization which is
working to hold automakers accountable for their vehicle design and
manufacturing decisions. For more information on the Ecology Center
and the issue of lead wheel weights, visit their web site:
http://www.leadfreewheels.org.
The City of Ann Arbor also leads the local Clean Cities program and
uses alternative fuels (i.e., biodiesel, natural gas, E 85) and
electric vehicles in its fleets. For more information, visit their
website:
http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/EnvironmentalCoordination.
The Lead-free Wheels Project is funded in part by a grant from the US
Environmental Protection Agency.
Contacts:
Jeff Gearhart
Campaign Director, Ecology Center
734-663-2400 x117
Matt Naud
City of Ann Arbor Environmental Coordinator
734-997-1596
Tom Gibbons
City of Ann Arbor Fleet Manager - Operations Analyst 734-994-2817
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