Lead wheel weights to be phased out in California by end of 2009

Lead wheel weights, widely used to balance vehicle tires but considered a threat to drinking water, will be phased out in California by the end of next year under a court settlement approved Wednesday. The settlement ends a lawsuit filed in May by the Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health against Chrysler and the three largest makers of lead wheel weights for the U.S. market. Some observers see the settlement as a first step toward a broader ban on the products. For the full story visit www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wheels21-2008aug21,0,6289041.story