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Lead wheel weights

Legal Action Cites Chrysler, Producers for Continuing Use of Lead-Based Wheel Weights

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)

Washington State Considers Requiring Use of Alternatives To Lead Wheel Weights (February 2007):

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:

Establish an advisory committee to identify and make available to tire distributors and retailers by September 1, 2007, an approved list of environmentally preferred alternatives to lead wheel weights; and
Require replacement of lead wheel weights for passenger vehicles and light trucks with lead-free alternatives beginning January 1, 2008, for state-owned vehicles, January 1, 2009 for all used vehicles registered in Washington state, and January 1, 2010, for all new vehicles registered in Washington state.

Text of HB 2143

Listen to the House Hearing

Automaker's Continue Move To Go Lead-Free; Aftermarket Lags(February 2007)

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

Blacksburg, Virgina to go Lead-Free(August 2006):

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

New Alternatives Assessment Study Looks At Lead Wheel Weight Alternatives(July 2006):

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).

New USGS Study on Wheel Weights Available (April 2006):

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

EPA Balks on Banning Major Automotive Lead Use

(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

Related Documents:

News

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

Main St. Tire and Auto

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