November 13, 2021
by Vi Thuy Nguyen MD
Riley did it! We are so proud to have Riley Gilberton’s opinion piece on the dangers of leaded aviation gasoline to the health of children accepted and published in the San Diego Union Tribune. This has been part of his advocacy work which has included a presentation along with Dr. Rachel Ireland (developmental pediatrics) and myself at the Clairemont Town Council entitled “Lead as a Pediatric Neurotoxin to Clairemont’s Children” Riley wrote advocacy letters to Mayor Todd Gloria’s office and the EPA. He will be presenting his work also this month at UCSD School of Medicine, PRIME HEq Program as part of a joint presentation on Environmental Justice. The most powerful part for me was how Riley ended his opinion piece
“The threat is clear; the physical and mental well-being of thousands of children and adults alike is being debilitated, through no fault of their own. Every day that passes while Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport offers exclusively leaded gasoline and emits toxic lead is another day in which the wonderful, exciting prospects of the young children in our communities are actively diminished. The need for unleaded fuels to be offered and lead aviation gasoline to be phased out is obligatory. Trading inconvenience for the unencumbered future of our children is no decision at all.” https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2021-11-12/leaded-airplane-fuel-aviation-pollution
Bravo to Riley, and hoping that SDPCA’s efforts will make a difference at the city council level. As I tell our coalition members and our students, the most important thing is that as pediatricians we showed up. We showed up and spoke the truth about the dangers of leaded air pollution to children. Half of advocacy is about showing up, and Riley Gilbertson showed up in a big way for our organization and for San Diego’s children.
