Recently, several U.S. states have implemented policies to improve product safety and reduce the environmental impact of consumer and industrial products. However, regulatory agencies and legislators in California, Washington, Vermont, and other environmentally conscious states are dissatisfied with the effectiveness of current policies and hope to further protect their natural resources and prevent public harm from toxic substances in products. Therefore, they are tightening existing laws to further prohibit the sale of products containing harmful chemicals and heavy metals. California, Maine, Vermont, and Washington have completely banned the use of lead-based wheel weights. Wheel weights are primarily used to balance wheels and prevent abnormal vibrations at high speeds. Washington state passed a law (HB 1033) on April 28, 2011, requiring anyone replacing wheels or installing wheel weights to use more environmentally friendly wheel weights, meaning the weights must contain no more than 0.5% by weight of chemicals and metals of concern. This law aims to prevent lead-based wheel weights from posing a threat to the environment. Fragments of leaded wheel balancing weights are scattered on the road as vehicles travel, affecting pedestrian health and polluting soil, groundwater, and water surfaces, posing a threat to downstream aquatic life. Lead is known to be harmful to human health, especially children. Maine implemented similar measures on May 12th. The law not only bans the use of leaded wheel balancing weights but also extends the ban to mercury-containing wheel balancing weights, taking effect on January 1, 2011. Furthermore, starting January 1, 2012, the state prohibited new vehicles from being equipped with any leaded wheel balancing weights.
