leaded petrol will be phased out across much of the developed world by the year 2005 in order to help reduce emissions of toxic heavy metals. The us, Canada and European countries pledged to stop sales of the fuel in a recent summit of environmental ministers from 54 nations held in Aarhus, Denmark. The European Union has already announced a ban on use of leaded petrol.

The decision of these countries form part of a legally-binding commitment signed at the summit to reduce emissions of three heavy metals