Are California Residents Living Near General Aviation Airports at Risk of Lead Exposure?

A popular television broadcasting company recently published an article about piston-engine aircraft that still use leaded gas and potential exposure risks for people living near some airports. The piece highlighted the health and financial struggles of an individual that lived near a general aviation airport in California.

Aviation gasoline (avgas) for piston engine aircraft are the only remaining lead-containing transportation fuel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), avgas emissions have become the largest contributor to the relatively low levels of lead emissions produced in this country.

The various grades of avgas are identified using the Motor Octane Number (MON) combined with the following alpha-designations to indicate lead content:  low lead (LL), very low lead (VLL), or unleaded (UL). The FAA states that there are approximately 167,000 aircraft in the United States that rely on low lead avgas for safe operation.

“While there are plans for unleaded avgas use in the future, for now it’s important that people that work with or near piston engine aircraft, and those in areas surrounding general aviation airports, understand that lead is emitted into the air by these aircraft,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at LA Testing. “At LA Testing, our laboratories in California analyze air, soil, water, dust, and other environmental samples for lead contamination. These services are available to individuals, regulatory agencies, airport administrators, and environmental advocates to help determine if lead or other hazardous exposure risks exist for workers and the public.”

To learn more about this or other occupational, environmental, air quality, health, and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com , or call (800) 755-1794.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash, and smoke damage, particulates, and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health, and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego, and Ontario.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail