This article, “Moss Biomonitoring and Isotopic Signatures Reveal Aviation Fuel as Local Lead Source near Oregon Airports”  found higher concentrations of lead in proximity to the Hillsboro and Troutdale Airports. 

Here is a link to the article in Nature Communications Sustainability (open access): https://www.nature.com/articles/s44458-026-00130-x

Here is a link on the study, background information, and resources: https://ehsc.oregonstate.edu/our-research/research-highlights/leaded-aviation-gas

Below are a few excerpts. 

“The lower maximum lead concentration for Troutdale moss (5.50 mg/kg), compared to Hillsboro moss (21.60 mg/kg), aligns with NEI emissions data, indicating that Troutdale Airport’s lead emissions are about half those of the higher-traffic Hillsboro Airport31.”

“The six sites closest to the most active runway at Hillsboro Airport, within 0.5–0.7 km, had the highest lead concentrations in the study, ranging from 7.08 to 21.6 mg/kg (Figs. 2, 3a), with a median concentration of 15.3 mg/kg. These values are up to 6.67× higher than the Portland background and 46.7× higher than the NW Oregon rural moss concentration (0.463 mg/kg)24.”

“Lead emissions from piston-engine aircraft using leaded aviation gasoline (avgas) remain a significant source of environmental contamination near regional airports, posing potential health risks to nearby communities. Passive biomonitoring using the epiphytic moss Orthotrichum lyellii was combined with lead isotope fingerprinting to quantify lead concentrations and distinguish between legacy leaded gasoline and current avgas emissions near Hillsboro and Troutdale airports in Oregon. Here we show that lead levels are elevated by up to 50 times the rural background near airports, with isotopic signatures confirming avgas as a dominant local source. These findings indicate that avgas use contributes substantially to environmental lead burdens in adjacent residential neighborhoods. Moss biomonitoring offers a cost-effective approach for detecting and mapping lead pollution from airport emissions, supporting efforts to evaluate exposure risks and inform regulatory actions aimed at reducing lead exposure from aviation sources”

“The objective of this study was to determine the impact of leaded aviation fuel (avgas) use at the Hillsboro and Troutdale regional airports in the Portland metropolitan area of northwest Oregon (USA) on environmental lead levels, using the epiphytic moss Orthotrichum lyellii. Both airports are among the top three lead emitters in Oregon. In 2017, Hillsboro Airport ranked #10 among U.S. airports for annual lead emissions, producing 550 kg lead31,47,48,49, while Troutdale Airport ranked #88 nationally, with 251 kg, about 45% of Hillsboro’s emissions31. This study used the 2017 National Emissions Inventory (NEI) data, rather than the most recent (2020) data, to avoid potential misrepresentation caused by pandemic-related reductions in air traffic50,51. We hypothesize that elevated lead concentrations and distinct isotope ratios from moss samples collected near the Hillsboro and Troutdale airports will trace leaded aviation fuel emissions, distinguishing them from other urban sources. Moreover, lead emissions from these airports pose a greater potential exposure risk than those in rural areas, as both are adjacent to residential areas, including schools, daycares, and parks, with 2020 census tract population densities ranging from 2764.5 to 12,522.6 people per square mile52. In this study, we present findings that show elevated lead concentrations near regional airports in northwest Oregon, with lead isotope analysis confirming airport contributions.”

“Detection of lead from avgas in residential neighborhoods near these regional airports demonstrates that the continued use of leaded gasoline is contributing to local lead pollution. Lead is persistent in the environment and a critical air pollutant with significant public health concerns. Even after the adoption of unleaded aviation fuel alternatives in general aviation, elevated environmental lead levels are expected to persist due to long-term accumulation in local soils. This study demonstrates the potential use of moss as a low-cost, reliable screening method for lead emissions near major sources. Studies of moss and other biomonitors near additional regional airports may help to determine national variability in the environmental impact of these sources, inform the development of child protection zones around regional airports, and assess the impact of new regulations reducing or banning the use of leaded avgas.”

See the rest of the accompanying article here.

From our friends at Oregon Aviation Watch:

Miki Barnes
July 27, 2026

We are thankful to report that on 7/21/2026, members of the Hillsboro City Council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2930 urging the Port of Portland to expedite the transition to unleaded aviation gasoline at the Hillsboro Airport (HIO).

As explained in the Staff Report prepared by Sustainability and Resiliency Manager, Robin Straughan, and Government Relations Manager, Ariel Nelson:

• Resolution 2930 urges practicable and expeditious action to encourage and facilitate the transition to unleaded avgas by applicable jurisdictions – primarily the Port of Portland and the Federal Aviation Administration.
  
  The City of Hillsboro is working with public health experts at the Oregon Health Authority and Washington County Public Health to provide updated information via City communication channels to raise awareness about the risks of lead exposure from multiple sources and how community members can access resources for blood and soil testing. Hillsboro has also engaged an environmental consultant to conduct lead testing at City facilities near the airport that serve impacted populations.

During the meeting, staff explained that “children and pregnant people are predominantly affected by lead poisoning because it impacts the developing brain.” 

Staff, along with Councillors Kipperlyn Sinclair and Olivia Alcaire described the resolution as a first step.

In the words of Councillor Alcaire, “Lead is a real problem. Affecting children’s health is a real problem…There is a lot more protection that needs to happen and addressing of health issues that have been impacting people for a long time.”

Councillor Alcaire emphasized that both the City and the Port should actively engage in notifying the public about the dangers of aviation lead. She also stated that residents should be informed about visiting certain areas of the City or attending events such as the airshow that may potentially put them at increased risk of aviation lead exposure.

In response to questions from Councillor Sinclair, staff said plans are underway to engage in air and soil testing at several sites: the Brookwood Library located adjacent to HIO, Hidden Creek Community Center (0.85 miles from HIO), and Tyson Recreational Center (0.95 miles from HIO).
Other concerns addressed by Councillor Sinclair focused on availability of multi-language informational materials related to HIO lead poisoning and lead testing. She also asked if the Port of Portland will provide public signage along the outer perimeter warning of the dangers of lead poisoning. Responses from staff indicated that the Port has not addressed this issue.

Regarding the availability of free BLL testing for area residents, staff said that the Washington County Public Health Department recommendation is for residents to contact their health care providers. Options for people who do not currently have a provider are still being explored.

Council President Rob Harris asked for quarterly staff reports to the council on Port progress in providing unleaded fuel. He also voiced an interest in looking into the possibility of transitioning to unleaded avgas earlier than 2030.

Councillor Case expressed appreciation to Robin Straughan and Ariel Nelson for the dedicated work they have put forth on developing this resolution.

Oregon Aviation Watch is grateful to City Staff and the Hillsboro City Council for their respective roles in adopting this resolution.

Community Member Comments in Support of the Resolution

Below are excerpts from some of the testimony submitted by residents who spoke in support of the resolution.

Katie Riley, Ed.D Assistant Professor Emerita. OHSU Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine

I wish to add my support to Resolution 2930 to ask that the City of Hillsboro require the Hillsboro Airport convert their fuel source to unleaded fuel. A study published in August 2024 in Environmental Health Perspectives found that children who live near an airport had higher blood lead levels, on average, than those who lived farther away. The results were the same when researchers accounted for the chance that the source of lead exposure was the child’s house, not the nearby planes. Although lead was removed from vehicle gasoline decades ago, many piston-engine aircraft still use leaded gas…The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that lead emissions from aircraft endanger the public’s health. Childhood lead poisoning has been associated with serious developmental delays and brain damage. We do not want to have lead exposure poisoning Hillsboro's children.

Mark Erwert - Hillsboro Resident

My family has called Hillsboro home for 26 years, and we have raised three children here. I strongly support Resolution No. 2930 and the fastest practical transition away from leaded aviation fuel at Hillsboro Airport.

This issue is personal to our family. When a family member was tested, lead was detected in their blood. Although that test could not identify the source, it made the dangers of environmental lead exposure very real to us.

No family should have to wonder whether avoidable lead emissions in their community contributed to their child’s exposure. Please adopt Resolution No. 2930 and continue pressing the Port of Portland and the FAA to transition to unleaded aviation fuel as quickly as safely possible.

Blaine Ackley

“I have been an elementary, middle, and high school teacher, school principle and university professor. From my experience, children who have been affected by environmental factors face an uphill battle in school academics and behavior. One of the most egregious of these factors is lead getting into their blood streams and going directly to their brains. There is no safe amount of lead for humans and lead poisoning can affect people’s motor agility, their ability to process information, their attention span, and their socio-emotional control in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. In adults, lead can affect the functioning of our internal organs and our mental processing and behavior.”

James Lubischer, MD (Retired Pediatrician)

“The unleaded fuel G100UL is FAA approved for use in 100% of fixed-wing airplanes.” Dr. Lubischer went on to explain that FAA approval for the use of G100UL in helicopters is expected to be issued soon. “So presently, 97.5% of all piston engine aircraft have received approval to use G100UL.”

“With the prohibition of the lead-containing fuel 100LL, HIO will no longer be a source of lead poisoning for the children that live within a 1/2 mile of HIO”

Teresa Tse

"…about 5 to 6 studies have shown that children that live or go to school near airports where the lead-containing fuel 100 Low Lead is used had higher blood lead levels.  Any lead in a child is damaging to their brains, no safe blood lead level has ever been shown.

Please have the Port of Portland stop using 100 low lead fuel and stop poisoning the children that live near the Hillsboro Airport.”

David Barnes

“HIO has a broad footprint, one that reaches well beyond City boundaries. For decades, residents of Hillsboro and surrounding communities have been relentlessly subjected to aviation lead emissions on a daily basis. You as elected officials are in a unique position to advocate for the health and well-being of your constituents who as a direct result of HIO aviation activity are routinely forced to breath lead-contaminated air.”

Karna Sheth

“There’s a reason why we don’t use leaded fuel in our cars anymore…Hope you will make this the first step in moving us away from this fuel.”

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on Airport Lead Pollution

The Oregon Health Authority has recently added information on aviation lead poisoning to their website. To access the OHA site click here.
Below is a section on blood lead level testing recommendations:

From Protect Mesa Neighborhoods from Flight School Lead Exposure and Excessive Noise Change.Org Petition: 

We have an important update regarding the lawsuit challenging the City of Mesa’s new landing fee program at Falcon Field.

On June 23, 2026, the federal judge denied the flight schools’ request for a preliminary injunction, meaning the court will not stop the City of Mesa from moving forward with its landing fee program while the lawsuit continues. The judge also denied the plaintiffs’ request for expedited discovery.

This is an important procedural victory for the City.

It’s also important to understand exactly what the judge decided.

The court did not rule that Mesa’s landing fees are legal or illegal. Instead, the judge focused on whether the flight schools met the high legal standard required to receive emergency relief before the case is fully litigated.

To obtain a preliminary injunction, the plaintiffs had to show four things, including that they were likely to suffer immediate and irreparable harm if the fees went into effect before the lawsuit was resolved.

The judge found they failed to meet that burden.

Throughout the order, the court noted that many of the flight schools’ claims were speculative rather than supported by concrete evidence. They argued that students might enroll elsewhere, instructors might leave, their reputations could be harmed, and they could lose future business.

However, the judge found there was insufficient evidence demonstrating these harms were imminent or could not be addressed later through monetary damages if the plaintiffs ultimately prevail.

One particularly noteworthy part of the decision is that the judge explained that even if the court assumed, solely for purposes of this motion, that the flight schools might ultimately succeed on some of their legal arguments, that alone was not enough. Because they failed to demonstrate irreparable harm, the extraordinary remedy of a preliminary injunction was not warranted.

The judge also denied the plaintiffs’ request for expedited discovery, finding there was no compelling reason to accelerate the normal litigation schedule.

As a result, the lawsuit will now continue through the standard litigation process. Both sides will continue presenting evidence, conducting discovery, and making legal arguments before the court eventually reaches a decision on the merits of the case.

In the meantime, the City is free to continue implementing its landing fee program unless another court orders otherwise.

For those of us who have spent years documenting the impacts of repetitive touch-and-go training operations over our neighborhoods, this represents a significant milestone. Residents have attended countless City Council meetings, shared personal stories, collected operational data, spoken with elected officials, and worked together to raise awareness of the extraordinary volume of flight training occurring at Falcon Field.

While this ruling does not end the lawsuit, it is an encouraging development. The court declined to halt Mesa’s efforts before the facts have been fully litigated, allowing the City to move forward while the case proceeds.

As always, we remain committed to sharing factual information and court developments as they occur. We will continue following both the federal lawsuit and the FAA’s separate review process and will keep everyone informed of any significant updates.

Thank you to every resident who has signed the petition, shared their experiences, attended meetings, submitted comments, and continued advocating for a reasonable balance between airport operations and the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods. Your continued involvement has helped bring this issue to the forefront, and your support remains greatly appreciated.

Letter from Alicia Goforth, City of Mesa Councilmember District 5:

Jun 18, 2026

Dear Neighbors,

I wanted to share some good news regarding HB2210, the bill that would have prohibited Arizona airports from using ADS-B technology to help identify airport activity for the purpose ofcollecting user fees. The bill stalled in the Arizona Senate and did not pass before the Legislature adjourned. This is a positive outcome for Falcon Field Airport, Mesa Gateway Airport, and other airports across Arizona that rely on ADS-B technology as an accurate and cost-effective tool for managing airport operations. I want to thank the many residents who took the time to contact legislators and make their voices heard. Your engagement helped demonstrate the community’s concern about the potential impacts of this legislation and reinforced the importance of preserving local authority over airport operations. This outcome is a reminder that resident involvement matters. Thank you for staying informed, speaking up, and helping protect an important community asset.

Alicia Goforth, City of Mesa Councilmember District 5

May 27, 2026 Press Release

Washington, D.C.— Congressman Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) sent a bipartisan letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Administrator Bryan Bedford demanding a reduction in airplane noise as we head into the summer months, and seeking updates on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) work to do so thus far. As Vice-Chair of the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, Suozzi led 31 other Members of Congress in this effort.

In the letter, Suozzi and the bipartisan group of Representatives highlighted the serious threat aviation noise poses to human health, with impacts going far beyond typical annoyance.

“Airplane noise is more than just a nuisance for families in Queens and on Long Island. It’s a serious quality-of-life issue that affects the mental and physical health of constituents across my district,” said Congressman Suozzi. “For too long, residents have been forced to live with relentless noise overhead. There are solutions that reduce the noise burden on our communities without compromising safety, and it’s beyond time to implement them.”

Given these serious threats, together the Representatives are urging the FAA to act immediately to solicit members for the Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) by the end of June, convene the first ANAC meeting by the end of 2026, and hold public meetings for community members near every U.S. airport that has received 10 or more noise complaints in the last year. Affected communities deserve answers to their quality-of-life concerns.

“The volume of airplane noise complaints we continue to see across the Greater Boston area makes clear that communities are still being overwhelmed by concentrated flight paths and excessive aircraft operations. This year alone, Massport has already received more than 41,000 noise complaints statewide, including about 3,500 from the Eighth Congressional District,” said Quiet Skies Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA). “As Co-Chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, I remain committed to ensuring the FAA follows through on its obligation to engage impacted communities directly, convene the Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee without further delay, and take meaningful action to address the public health impacts of aviation noise.”

“D.C. residents and airport-adjacent communities across the country deserve relief from excessive aviation noise that disrupts daily life and which, study after study shows, threatens public health,” said Quiet Skies Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). “Congress required the FAA to establish an Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee that includes meaningful community representation, yet the agency has failed to even solicit potential members for the ANAC, 18 months past the statutory deadline. As progress forming the ANAC stalls, there are communities affected by aviation noise that have been denied the opportunity to engage directly with the FAA through public meetings for months, if not years. The FAA must finally give affected residents a seat at the table and engage directly with communities living under flight paths.”

“Airplane noise from O'Hare continues to disrupt my constituents' daily lives and damage their health. As a member of the Quiet Skies Caucus, I have tried to partner with the administration on solving this issue, but the FAA's response has been neither helpful nor satisfactory,” said Quiet Skies Caucus Vice-Chair, Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL). “If the FAA is serious about reducing airplane noise in our communities, they should meet with the general public to be held accountable. They must also comply with the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Law and establish an Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee capable of helping Americans.”

This letter is also supported by the Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA).

“Advocates nationwide applaud the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus for amplifying the concerns of communities enduring the impacts of aviation every day. Communities’ lived experience must be fundamental to the ANAC when operationalized, and the FAA’s Aviation Noise Complaint & Inquiry Response portal must evolve beyond a complaint intake system to capture systemic concerns and inform mitigation efforts and noise policy discussions. Congressional intent is clear. Communities are waiting,” said Darlene Yaplee, President and Co-Founder of the Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA).

Reducing airplane noise has been one of Congressman Suozzi’s top priorities since coming to Congress in 2017. He remains committed to working with federal officials, airlines, and local stakeholders to deliver meaningful relief for affected communities in New York’s Third Congressional District.

Read the full letter here.

From our friends at the Aviation Impacted Communities Alliance:

Dear Aviation-Impacted Communities,

Thanks to your outreach and follow-up efforts over the last two weeks, the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus (QSC) letter was issued on Friday, 5/22 with 32 Congressional signatures, including support from 6 non-QSC members, link to letter. 

We appreciate everyone who contacted offices and followed up with staff throughout this effort. We also especially appreciate the advocates who helped expand support beyond current QSC membership.
This is a meaningful step forward, and there is more to come. The QSC plans to issue a press release on Tuesday, 5/26. Many of you may see the release before we do on the West Coast, so stay tuned for a follow-up email with the press release and easy-to-use draft messages to thank members who signed and encourage additional representatives to support future efforts.

Thank you again for your continued advocacy and engagement. Your efforts truly make a difference.


See the letter here.

May 1, 2026 | Economy and Jobs, Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Eugene Vindman (Va.-07), Kristen McDonald Rivet (Mich.-08), and Greg Landsman (Ohio-01) introduced legislation to put taxpayers first by closing an unfair loophole that shifts the cost of private jets onto working families. 

The Stop Subsidizing Private Jets Act would close tax loopholes that allow ultra-wealthy private jet owners and corporations to write off the cost of luxury aircraft and related expenses, while preserving targeted protections for small businesses, farmers, charter and rental operators, and emergency responders who rely on aviation for legitimate purposes. 

“Working families shouldn’t be footing the bill so billionaires can write off private jets,” said Vindman. “Right now, the tax code allows those buying private jets worth tens of millions of dollars to receive enormous write-offs, while middle-class families do not get deductions for basics like gas or groceries. That is wrong. My bill is a commonsense fix that ends these unfair giveaways while protecting farmers, small businesses, and emergency responders who depend on aviation for real business and community needs.” 

“It’s ridiculous and unfair that the ultra-wealthy get million-dollar tax breaks for their private jets while working families are seeing their health care and food assistance cut,” said McDonald Rivet. “We need to get rid of this insane loophole, because if you can afford a private jet, you can afford to pay your fair share in taxes.” 

“The fact that our tax dollars are still funding tax breaks for someone’s private jet is insane,” said Landsman. “We have to fix the tax code so the super-wealthy stop getting special treatment, and our small businesses and farmers can actually get ahead.” 

Under current tax law, ultra-wealthy jet owners and corporations can write off the full cost of private jets, some valued at more than $100 million, along with related expenses like fuel, pilots, décor, and in-flight services. In the first year of bonus depreciation alone, a $100 million jet can generate a tax benefit of roughly $21 million.  

While the tax code already limits deductions for luxury vehicles, private jets remain fully subsidized. 

The Stop Subsidizing Private Jets Act would: 

• End full-cost write-offs for private jets and related luxury expenses; and  
• Preserve targeted exemptions for farmers, small businesses, aircraft charter and rental companies, and emergency responders who use aviation for legitimate business and essential services.  

The legislation is designed to make the tax code fairer by eliminating subsidies for luxury air travel while protecting those who genuinely rely on aviation to serve their communities, run their businesses, and respond to emergencies. 

See original press release here.