Use unleaded gasoline!

According to the June 1996 Reader's Digest, "Experts estimate that 600 metric tons of lead fell on Jakarta in 1994, and that amount increases annually by 6 percent to 8 percent. Most of the lead comes from vehicle exhaust. Tests of children in congested areas show much higher levels of lead in their urine than in children outside Jakarta."

"Elevated lead levels in the blood can lead to irreversible brain and nerve damage, a lower IQ, and behavioral and physical difficulties."

"Japan, the U.S. and other countries have banned leaded gasoline... Watch for these danger signs of lead poisoning: lethargy, mood swings, irritability, nervous system disorders, stomach distress and body aches."

These symptoms describe most of the people I know in Jakarta. Seriously, there can't be a more urgent priority for this nation's leaders than to literally "get the lead out" before another generation of children is damaged. Vulnerable young bodies -- not to mention older ones -- are paying a terrible price for the dominant mode of transportation.

I urge the authorities to (1) immediately lower the price of unleaded gasoline (currently it's higher than leaded, which hardly encourages people to switch to unleaded); (2) institute an educational campaign designed to alert the nation to the need of switching to unleaded; and (3) ban the use of leaded gasoline altogether as quickly as possible.

JOHN CROSBY

Jakarta