100LL Question

VUOFlyer

VUOFlyer

Well-Known Member
I was thinking earlier today while taking a fuel sample, how much lead is there actually in 100LL? I've never thought of it but thought it might be interesting to know.
 
Minuteman said:
There's 0.2 to 0.3 grams of lead per gallon in 100LL.
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I was curious also, are the health risks from dealing with 100LL the same as any other environment involving lead? There's been at least a few times where I've gotten 100LL spilled on my hands while taking a fuel sample, but thought nothing of it after washing it away.
 
VUOFlyer said:
I was curious also, are the health risks from dealing with 100LL the same as any other environment involving lead? There's been at least a few times where I've gotten 100LL spilled on my hands while taking a fuel sample, but thought nothing of it after washing it away.
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I'd definitely wash off your hands following pumping, but I really doubt there is much to worry about. Think about all the old guys out there who used to hand pump higher lead aero and auto gas back in the day.....haven't known any to be suffering the effects now (I've never met anyone with lead poisioning anyway).
 
FWIW: biologically, lead replaces calcium in your bones, or anywhere else calcium is used in your body. It " mimics" the physical chemistry structure of calcium. As a result, it's most harmful to pregnant women and growing children. Neither of whom should be pumping gas.
 
TEL probably explains why all the old-timer pilots are batcrap insane.

I always TRY to wash my hands ASAP after getting fuel on them.
 
100LL is not the worst for you, but you want to get it off as soon as you can. It can irritate the skin after a while.
 
So ... do you think you get more exposure to lead from sumping the tanks or an afternoon at the gun range?

I would guess it's the 100LL because it's an organic compound, but you also have a better chance of ingesting lead through breathing or rubbing yer face at the range.
 
n57flyguy said:
100LL is not the worst for you, but you want to get it off as soon as you can. It can irritate the skin after a while.
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+1, when I used to work line service, I eventually got really irritated skin on my hands from spilling the stuff all over myself (that and practically gargling JET-A every time I tried to fill the Sherriff MD500). Eventually got some good gloves to keep it off myself, and the problem went away
 
///AMG said:
+1, when I used to work line service, I eventually got really irritated skin
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:yeahthat: Some peeps do have "sensitive" more girl like skin. Just score some gloves and new box of tampons and you'll be fine.

I kid I kid
 
Wear safety goggles. 100LL in the eye is probably the worst things about dealing with that stuff. Has been known to cause blindness.
 
n57flyguy said:
100LL is not the worst for you, but you want to get it off as soon as you can. It can irritate the skin after a while.
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Now I'm thinking about, doesn't the skin absorb most liquids it comes into contact with? If so, I would think in addition to skin irritation, that would be another way for lead to enter the body.
 
VUOFlyer said:
Now I'm thinking about, doesn't the skin absorb most liquids it comes into contact with? If so, I would think in addition to skin irritation, that would be another way for lead to enter the body.
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Yeah, it can enter the body that way. Does it enter the bloodstream? I couldn't tell you but my guess is no.

I've only noticed a slight burning on my hands after fueling every low lead customer on the field. I try to use gloves, but they get restrictive after a while. Or my hands get cold any way so I just deal with it.
 
At the very least think of it this way...

The little avgas you have spilled on yourself is dwarfed is comparison to the gallons that have been drenching some of the senior career line techs for years. So, hopefully any seriously negative effects would have been noticed by now. Plus I don't remember NATA ever warning me about it over and over. But safety vest... now that's another story!

http://www.nata.aero/plst/
 
I learned pretty early on that airplanes are dirty things.

I started keeping either some disposable latex gloves and later some "Mechanix" gloves from the auto parts store in my little flight bag. Not only does it keep gas and oil off my hands, but makes it easier to check the oil on a hot motor. Definitely worth the $10.
 
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