Document 06205M34GyX5pD9veypovRz3J

ETHYL CORPORATION 100 p a r k a v e n u e NEW YORK IT, N. Y, November 1, 1962 To: Messrs. H. K. Ball H. J. Gibson D. M. Guy H.E. Hesselberg J. H. Huguet L. L. Huxtable R. A. Kehoe t.. M. P. Murdock W.R. Perdue F. Princi S. T. Pruitt R. K. Scales K. Swartwood M. A. Taylor B.B. Turner F.P. Warne Gentlemen: The attached is for your information. RH: JC HE 0009252 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 5WASHINGTON L , D.C. Refer to: OCT o 1962 Mr. George F. Kirby Vice President-Operations Ethyl Corporation 100 Park Avenue New York 17, New York ; Dear Mr. Kirby: The staff of the Division of Air Pollution, in consultation with the Division of Occupational Health, have reviewed your letter of 18 October 1962, in regard to tetramethyl lead. Further, they have reviewed the documents submitted by Dr. Kehoe as well as other information relevant to this subject. Although the Public Health Service does not have legal authority regarding the use of such compounds in commerce, we are submitting the following statement to you as representing our technical review and opinion on this subject: "The Public Health Service recognizes that the use of anti-knock compounds containing lead may present a potential hazard to public health, however, the Service believes that existing evidence demonstrates that this hazard is minimal. Although the industry took steps in 1959 to increase the maximum permissible concentration of tetraethyl lead in gasoline from 3. 0 ml. to 4.0 ml. per gallon, the total concentration present in E 0009253 N9976.01 the United States gasoline pool has not increased significantly. Further, studies conducted thus far and known to us have not shown tetramethyl lead (TML) to be significantly different from tetraethyl lead (TEL) insofar as air pollution hazards or industrial exposures are concerned. Therefore, the Public Health Service does not believe that increasing TML to the equivalent lead content in gasoline that is now permissible, under industry practice, for TEL (4. 06 cc's TEL per gallon, or 4. 23 grams of lead, equivalent to 2. 74 cc's of TML) would contribute to a significantly greater hazard. The Service suggests that the total lead content of gasoline containing either of these compounds, or mixtures of them, or related compounds and their mixtures, should not exceed this total content of lead, i. e. , 4. 23 grams per gallon. We further recommend that continuous surveillance and studies, such as the projects now being conducted by the industry, the Service and others be carried out with periodic reevaluation of the situation. " My staff will be pleased to discuss this matter with you further, you so desire. Sincerely yours, 0009254