Opal (fuel)
Opal is a variety of low-aromatic petrol developed in 2005 by BP Australia to combat the rising use of petrol as an inhalant in remote indigenous Australian communities.
Typical unleaded petrol contains 25% aromatics, such as benzene, toluene, ortho-xylene and para-xylene. In contrast, Opal contains only 5% aromatics, which means that it has less of the toluene and other solvents which produce the intoxication (or "high") that inhalant users are seeking. The Australian Government subsidizes Opal's provision in remote communities.
Prior to the introduction of Opal, Comgas (a brand of the aviation fuel avgas) has been used in many communities to discourage misuse of fuel as an inhalant. However, unlike Opal, Comgas contains tetra-ethyl lead (TEL), which is absorbed into the bodies of inhalant users (and anyone who breathes the exhaust, even unintentionally).
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