A PRESSING HUMAN HEALTH ISSUE: THE LEAD WHEEL WEIGHT PROBLEM AND HOW TO CONVEY THIS INFORMATION TO STUDENTS, FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE

An often overlooked but significant source of lead in our environment comes from lead wheel weights found along the nation’s roads. These wheel weights, which are ~95% lead, are affixed to wheel rims to balance tires on a vehicle, enabling the vehicle to run smoothly. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that ~2,000 tons of lead has reached the environment through discarded wheel weights. Currently there are no regulatory controls governing the use of these weights, though several states have outlawed them and the European Union banned their use on new and after market wheels in 2005. A voluntary National Lead Free Wheel Weight Initiative has been initiated by EPA. Lead from these weights can be tracked into homes by shoes and pet feet and can be a source of lead in urban storm-water runoff. Since lead is specifically dangerous for young children, more information is needed about the volume and fate of lead wheel weights in the environment.

In order for students to become more aware of the problem of lead wheel weights, numerous educational activities relating to the problem have been developed. Grade levels targeted range from middle school to college level. One particularly helpful way for students to investigate the problem is to have them take wheel weight walks, in which they are trained in finding the weights and then walk certain sidewalks in search of them. In 38 such walks over an 8 month period, one of the co-authors managed to collect 556 wheel weights totaling 13.6 kg. To improve their observational and math skills, students can weigh the weights they find, note their condition (necessary to determine steady state conditions), and perform statistics on the data collected. Additional walks can help determine how effective the collection process was and ascertain the addition of new weights to the roadway. Studies for students into the health effects of lead wheel weights and the potential routes for contamination are also helpful. And for Earth Day 2011, we propose to hold the first nationwide lead wheel weight cleanup day. Students as well as businesses and individuals will be invited to take walks to collect the weights, characterize them, and then recycle them. We hope for this to become an annual event, with additional collection of road kill coins and batteries, two items that are typically picked up during searches.