

Oakland, CA - The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) today initiated legal
action to stop the sale of lead-based wheel weights in the state of
California, due to the threat of lead pollution to the state's waterways
from wheel weights that fall from cars and trucks. CEH notified
the major producers of wheel weights and Chrysler, a leading auto maker,
that the lead-based weights are illegal under state's safe drinking
water law. While other auto makers have eliminated or are moving away
from the use of lead wheel weights, Chrysler continues to use the
lead-polluting product for most of its new U.S. car models. Read more...
Download CEH Report: Polluted Highways, Poisoned Waters: Lead in Wheel Balancing Weights" (pdf)
The House Select Committee on Environmental Health held a hearing on February 22nd on a bill which would eventually ban the use of lead wheel balancing weight on light -duty vehicles in Washiington State. The bill would:
The Ecology Center has released its second Lead-Free Wheels Survey of new vehicles. Lead wheel balancing weights represent one of the largest ongoing uses of lead in the world. The survey of new 2006/2007 model year vehicles showed that while many automakers have aggressively phased out lead wheel balancing, some automakers have made no progress (Chrysler) and zero aftermarket tire retailers in the US have committed to phasing out lead wheel weights. See survey results
The City recently announced a pilot program to do away with lead wheel weights on all government vehicles. The lead weights will be replaced with ones made either of zinc or steel. Officials also plan on helping train local automotive businesses in using the environmentally benign weights. Read more from the Roanoke Times
In July of 2005, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requested that the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) conduct a scientific study to assess safer alternatives for the following five toxic or hazardous chemicals, including lead. TURI developed an "alternatives assessment" methodology that was used to evaluate the technical, economic, and environmental, health and safety feasibility of alternatives to the five chemicals for selected uses.
Go
to full study
Download weight weight assessment section one & two (pdf).
This study addresses an accounting of the stocks and flows of lead contained in lead wheel weights from their manufacture, through use, dissipation, and recycling, and environmental issues associated with the use of lead. Stocks and Flows of Lead-Based Wheel Weights in the United States
(August 15, 2005 - Ann Arbor, Michigan) Environmentalists today criticized the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to reject a request to ban the use and sale of lead-containing weights used to balance wheels on vehicles. The Ecology Center, a Michigan-based environmental advocacy organization, had asked EPA to ban the sale of one of the largest unregulated sources of lead to the environment, automotive wheel balancing weights. The Ecology Center has estimated that 1,600 metric tons of lead is released each year onto U.S. roadways from wheel weights that fall off during use. The Ecology Center is now considering legal action to compel EPA action, along with ramped up efforts to pass legislation at the state level to ban the sale of lead-containing wheel weights. Press Release
Lead wheel weights featured in Environment Science and
Technology
Tires and lead: A weighty issue, Science News - August 2,
2006
Lead has long been the material of choice in weights used to
balance vehicle wheels, but a new analysis shows how often these weights
fall off, posing potential risks to human and environmental health.
Tires crunch against street curbs or come to a screeching halt when
drivers stop or swerve suddenly. In the process, one or more of the
weights clipped to the wheels to balance the tires - 2.5 oz/car wheel on
average - may get thrown off onto the roadway. In 2003 alone, 2000 t of
lead may have been lost from vehicles in this fashion, according to
estimates released in May by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
European Union Holds Firm On Lead Weight Phase-Out
Timeline
Committee for the Adaptation to Scientific and
Technical Progress of EC Legislation on Waste recently rejected the
efforts of some parts of the European Tire Industry to delay the July
2005 lead wheel phase-out deadline in Europe. Most major wheel weight
producers in Europe are 100% lead-free for weights for vehicle under
3,500 kilgrams. Download record of
decision (pdf) May 17, 2005
Environmentalists Move to Ban
Major Automotive Lead Use
Environmentalists have asked EPA to
ban the sales of one off the largest unregulated sources of lead to the
environment, automotive wheel balancing weights.
May 17, 2005
Download Ecology Center Toxic Substance Control Act Citizens Petition

Washington State Tire Retailer to
Phase-Out Lead Wheel Weights
First tire dealer on West Coast to
offer environmentally friendly wheel balancing
April 19, 2005
A lighter load: Minn. phases out lead wheel weights in Automotive News/Waste News, April 19, 2004
Automakers Divided Over Lead Wheel Weights by the Great Lakes Radio Consurtium, April 12, 2004
Ecology Center Rolls Out "Lead-Free Wheels Project" in From the Ground Up April, 2004
Ann Arbor Announces Program to Phase-Out Lead Wheel Weights on City Vehicles
Minnesota Announces Program to Phase-Out Lead Wheel Weights on State Vehicles
Putting the Brakes on Lead Wheel Weights by the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, March 24
Ecology Center to Demonstrate Safer Substitutes for Major Auto Lead Use in From the Ground Up