Use unleaded gasoline!

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