Opal (fuel)
Encyclopedia
Opal is a variety of low-aromatic 91 RON petrol developed in 2005 by BP Australia
to combat the rising use of petrol as an inhalant
in remote indigenous Australian communities.
A 2010 senate report showed that the introduction of Opal in 106 communities across remote and regional Australia had led to a 70% drop in petrol sniffing in those communities.
Typical unleaded petrol contains 25% aromatics
, such as benzene
, toluene
, ortho-xylene
and para-xylene
. In contrast, Opal contains only 5% aromatics, which means that it has less of the toluene and other solvents which produce the intoxication (or "high") that inhalant users are seeking. The Australian Government subsidizes Opal's provision and restricts regular sniff-able unleaded in some remote communities.
Prior to the introduction of Opal, Comgas (a brand of the aviation fuel
avgas
) has been used in many communities to discourage use of fuel as an inhalant. Unlike Opal, however, Comgas contains tetra-ethyl lead
(TEL), a harmful substance that is absorbed into the bodies of inhalant users (and anyone who breathes the exhaust, even unintentionally) .
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
to combat the rising use of petrol as an inhalant
Inhalant
Inhalants are a broad range of drugs whose volatile vapors are taken in via the nose and trachea. They are taken by volatilization, and do not include drugs that are inhaled after burning or heating...
in remote indigenous Australian communities.
A 2010 senate report showed that the introduction of Opal in 106 communities across remote and regional Australia had led to a 70% drop in petrol sniffing in those communities.
Typical unleaded petrol contains 25% aromatics
Aromaticity
In organic chemistry, Aromaticity is a chemical property in which a conjugated ring of unsaturated bonds, lone pairs, or empty orbitals exhibit a stabilization stronger than would be expected by the stabilization of conjugation alone. The earliest use of the term was in an article by August...
, such as benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
, toluene
Toluene
Toluene, formerly known as toluol, is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with the typical smell of paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, i.e., one in which a single hydrogen atom from the benzene molecule has been replaced by a univalent group, in this case CH3.It is an aromatic...
, ortho-xylene
O-Xylene
o-Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, based on benzene with two methyl substituents bonded to adjacent carbon atoms in the aromatic ring .It is a constitutional isomer of m-xylene and p-xylene....
and para-xylene
P-Xylene
p-Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, based on benzene with two methyl substituents. The “p” stands for para, identifying the location of the methyl groups as across from one another....
. In contrast, Opal contains only 5% aromatics, which means that it has less of the toluene and other solvents which produce the intoxication (or "high") that inhalant users are seeking. The Australian Government subsidizes Opal's provision and restricts regular sniff-able unleaded in some remote communities.
Prior to the introduction of Opal, Comgas (a brand of the aviation fuel
Aviation fuel
Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft. It is generally of a higher quality than fuels used in less critical applications, such as heating or road transport, and often contains additives to reduce the risk of icing or explosion due to high temperatures,...
avgas
Avgas
Avgas is an aviation fuel used to power piston-engine aircraft. Avgas is distinguished from mogas , which is the everyday gasoline used in cars and some non-commercial light aircraft...
) has been used in many communities to discourage use of fuel as an inhalant. Unlike Opal, however, Comgas contains tetra-ethyl lead
Tetra-ethyl lead
Tetraethyllead , abbreviated TEL, is an organolead compound with the formula 4Pb. An inexpensive additive, its addition to gasoline from the 1920's allowed octane ratings and thus engine compression to be boosted significantly, increasing power and fuel economy...
(TEL), a harmful substance that is absorbed into the bodies of inhalant users (and anyone who breathes the exhaust, even unintentionally) .
External links
- Manufacturer site
- Can new non-toxic products eliminate petrol sniffing behaviours in remote Indigenous communities? (PDF) Brett Badger, BA, RMIT University, June 2005 (large bibliography)