<P> Taking cue from the domestic programs, the U.S. Agency for International Development undertook an initiative to reduce tetraethyl lead use in other countries, notably its efforts in Egypt begun in 1995 . In 1996, with the cooperation of the U.S. AID, Egypt took almost all of the lead out of its gasoline . The success in Egypt provided a model for AID efforts worldwide . </P> <P> By 2000, the TEL industry had moved the major portion of their sales to developing countries whose governments they lobbied against phasing out leaded gasoline . Leaded gasoline was withdrawn entirely from the European Union market on 1 January 2000, although it had been banned much earlier in most member states . Other countries also phased out TEL . India banned leaded petrol in March 2000 . </P> <P> By 2011, the United Nations announced that it had been successful in phasing out leaded gasoline worldwide . "Ridding the world of leaded petrol, with the United Nations leading the effort in developing countries, has resulted in $2.4 trillion in annual benefits, 1.2 million fewer premature deaths, higher overall intelligence and 58 million fewer crimes," the United Nations Environmental Programme said . The announcement was slightly premature, as a few countries still have leaded gasoline for sale as of 2013 (see above). </P> <P> A statistically significant correlation has been found between the usage rate of leaded gasoline and violent crime: taking into account a 22 - year time lag, the violent crime curve virtually tracks the lead exposure curve . After the ban on TEL, blood lead levels in US children dramatically decreased . </P>

When did they take lead out of gas