Document 06R3RKdd5KXXv95xQMNe6VRKV

STRI CTLY CONFI DENTI AL MAY BE RELEASED ONLY BY DULY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL CONTACT REPORT Location: California State Department of Public Health, Berkeley, California Date: September 1, 1959 Those Present: For the State Department of Public Health: Dr. John Maga Chief, Bureau of Air Sanitation Dr. John R. Goldsmith Head, Air Pollution Medical Studies Dr. H. L. Helwig Chief, Air Sanitation Laboratory Six staff members of the various Chiefs Present for Ethyl Corporation: Mr. L. Huxtable and myself This session had been arranged vith Dr. Maga to review the general situation relative to the recent move of the TEL industries. Dr. Maga had been aware that this subject was under consideration in Washington, but it appeared that he was unaware of the transmittal of the report and the subsequent move of the TEL industries. To his knowledge, no one in the California Department of Public Health had received any specific information or a copy of the report of the ad hoc advisory committee. A general review of the material presented to the ad hoc committee was made. There were many interruptions relative to all ' phases of the presentation, most of them by Dr. Goldsmith, who was inter ested in the medical aspects of our studies at the Kettering Laboratory. Some of his queries were answered in a general manner and others were - countered by the statement that it would be necessary for someone more versed in the medical background to answer his questions. . It became apparent that a second session at which Dr. Kehoe would be present would be necessary to answer many of the questions posed specifically by Dr. Goldsmith. We later informed Dr. Maga that after KE" 0005012 they had received and reviewed the committee report, we would be glad to again meet with them to go into the matter in more detail. There is considerable urgency in the minds of the Public Health officials in this area since they have the responsibility for establishing by February, i960, standards pertaining to pollutant levels in the atmosphere as well as standards pertaining to permissible maximum concen trations of pollutants in automotive exhaust. Dr. Maga stated that lead both in air and in the exhaust would be considered, but it did not appear that so far they had been considering standards in either regard. It also did not appear that there was too great a concern on the part of any of the participants relative to present atmospheric lead content. For the record, Dr. Goldsmith specified a number of items that he would like discussed in detail at the next session. These included: 1.. Data as to trends in atmosphere lead content in as many areas as possible. 2. Information as to the number of individuals exposed by virtue of their occupation to various high levels of inorganic leadin-air. I believe he was referring to groups such as persons employed in the battery industry or in automotive activities related to body leading. It was not apparent as to what this specific query was leading up to. 3 Dr. Maga also raised a number of specific questions regarding the medical aspects of the human exposure studies carried out at the Kettering Laboratory. Dr. Maga indicated that in.the development of the air standards pre viously mentioned, that public hearings would be held late this year in both the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. The extent of our involve ment in these hearings will be determined by the specific items to be legislated. If standards relative to lead-in-air or lead-in-exhaust are included, it is certain that the crackpot element, particularly from Los Angeles, will be present and vocal. As soon as any information develops relative to these hearings, consideration must be given to the manner in which the lead industries act. Public Relations should be included in these discussions and should probably be represented on the spot. From discussions with various representatives of the petroleum industry, it is evident that they believe this is a lead industries problem and expect us to carry the fight. Information obtained later from Dr. W. L. Faith, director of the Air Pollution Foundation, indicated that Dr. Maga was not considering including lead-in-air or lead-in-exhaust standards. Whether or not ae 0005013 - 2- this recent change in maximum concentration might influence his earlier thinking, Dr. Faith did not know. It is indicated that in our next meeting with the Public Health officials we make every attempt to con vince them that the situation is such currently, and in the foreseeable future, that any standards pertaining to lead would not be required. HEH :br cc: Mr. B. B. Turner Mr. M. P. Murdock Mr. G. F. Kirby Mr. K. Swartwood Mr. R. K. Scales Mr. H. J. Gibson Dr. R. A. Kehoe H. E. Hesselberg 000501 i 3- -