Manganese assault
US trade arm throws weight behind toxic petrol additive to prevent a ban on it in Europe
in what looks like a diplomatic offensive to protect toxic trade, us -based Afton Chemicals has lobbied hard with the American government to mount pressure on European regulators to prevent the proposed ban on its product, Manganese Tricarbonyl Methylcyclopentadienyl (mmt).
Afton, producer of fuel and lubricant additives, has introduced mmt, a very harmful octane enhancer for petrol, to replace another harmful octane booster tetraethyl lead. Both are neurotoxic metals produced and sold by the same company.
The International Trade Administration of the us has sent a missive to the European Ministry of Economy, pleading Afton