It's true, but that's because there was no legally approved alternative until about a year ago.
Now that there's an approved unleaded replacement for 100 Octane avgas (G100UL), I expect leaded fuel will disappear quickly. Airports are currently in the process of installing the new tanks to dispense it.
Many of the bay area airports already started offering unleaded 94 Octane (UL94) at the pump as of earlier this year.
(Pilots don't like leaded fuel any more than anyone else. It's way too easy to get on your skin during a preflight check. We really want it gone.)
Yeah I always used to get it on my skin doing the drip check with those shot glasses with a pin in it. Yuck. Does it get absorbed through the skin?? I never knew and I usually didn't wash my hands because there was no toilet nearby, airside.
The TEL in liquid form is probably much more toxic than metallic or inorganic lead you find in stuff like paints or bullets due to it being more lipophilic and bioavailable. Be very careful with leaded fuel.
Now that there's an approved unleaded replacement for 100 Octane avgas (G100UL), I expect leaded fuel will disappear quickly. Airports are currently in the process of installing the new tanks to dispense it.
Many of the bay area airports already started offering unleaded 94 Octane (UL94) at the pump as of earlier this year.
(Pilots don't like leaded fuel any more than anyone else. It's way too easy to get on your skin during a preflight check. We really want it gone.)