Document 0879vEmOjBr8jwR4V272eMJM
- - V
riff^ 58
MIl,J3 1f3c M511l:~3: S193Sj j* !
April IS, 1983
Ur. J. H. Kirby Ethyl Corporation 100 Park Avenue < Hew York 1 7 / New York
Dear Ur. Kirby;
Z have followed your instructions in the approach to the authorisation by Ethyl Corporation of funds for the prosecution of the project entitled "Metabolism of Lead -in-Air," having made a few minor alterations in the description. Z am handing the papers, with a copy of this letter to Dr. Princi, Let me add the comment, that Z accept the responsibility for seeing that the funds are not over expended in 1963.
V C\
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v
Zt seems wise at this time to inform you, for the record, as to the future of this work, so far as Z can visualize it. Just What will follow my retirement from the Directorship of the Laboratory at the end of July, 1964, is, of course, open to question, but the experiments in progress should be brought to completion, it would seem, and after that, a course that appears now to be feasible be pursued.
First, because of the fixed financial limits within which the experiments must now be conducted, Z have arranged to reduce certain costs within the current year. They will be reduced still further if need be. Last year the over-all costs were of the order of $130,000.00. Our funds for the support of the work in the calendar year 1964 amount to $110,000.00, from the following sources: Ethyl Corporation, $25,000; E.Z. du Pont de Nemours and Company, $25,000; Lead Industries Association, $35,000 end the United States Public Health Bervice, $25,000. in order to remain within this limit, and yet continue the program that will deal with the present problem of thenAir Quality Standard,** with respect to lead, 1 have reduced the length of time over which we shall follow the two subjects who, recent^(February), have terminated their exposure within the respiratory chamber. (You will remember, no doubt, that these two men were engaged in parallel
observations involving their exposure to lead, under a fixed set of
conditions,fox first, 3 hours per day, every other day, then 6 hours per day, then 9 hours per day, sad finally, 12 h o w s per day. From these data, w e could hope to extrapolate to 24 hours per day, on 7 days per week*, this experiment has been finished, all but the follow up period after the termination of the exposure. Ibis period will be
shortened to 4 months, possibly to 3, thus eliminating the additional
6 to 6 months which would be required for them to return to the base line, for the good reason that the early trend of the results will be sufficient for present purposes, in view of our previous information on this matter.()
Mr. J. II. Kirby
2 - April 15, 1903
A further economy which In now possible because of our wealth of data, Is that of shortening the preliminary period of the observations on 2 new subjects to 4 months. These two men are being followed In parallel observations designed to demonstrate the least incremental Increase in the concentration of lead in the atmosphere (above the usual level In Cincinnati) which will just barely induce an increase in the output of lead in the urine, (the latter being the most sensitive evidence of an Increase in the rate of absorption of lead). In following these men, wc shall also be able to dispense with the collection and analysis of the food (which is now known to have a definitive statistical relationship to the lead in the feces).
By these combined economies we shall reduce our expenditures by about $10,000.00 per year (probably a bit more than this), and since we shall not take on any other new subjects within the year, we shall save at least an additional $7,200.00.
1 am sure you will not be interested in these details and I mention them only to demonstrate the care with which I have gone over the design of experiments which I consider to be crucial to the issue with which the lead antiknock industry is now confronted. We have beaten down and delayed, I believe, the impetus to set a statutory limit on lead in the ambient air. This will come again, however, and we must be prepared to meet it. I am confident that this can be done by means of the information which the last two experiments (the one now nearing completion, and the new one just beginning) will add to our present store of knowledge.
The design of the present experiment is such that it wil.i take about 2 years to complete, if the data fal, in line as we have reason to anticipate. This, I believe, means that the financial support provided by Ethyl Corporation for this work should continue through (and a bit beyond) the calendar year 1964. The support of the Public Health Service can be counted on, and that of Lead Industries Association seems assured.
With the completion of these experiments, the present major problem of the lead antiknock Industry will have been solved, and while I should like to feel that some (at least token) support for further work on lead will be forthcoming from this source, I have been assured by representatives of Lead Industries Association that they will pick up the tab for the prosecution of the work on another highly Important factor in the pulmonary absorption of lead - namely, the role of the chemical compound (such as the sulfide, silicate and the basic sulfate). I would like to be assured; as far as one can be assured of anything in this unpredictable world of ours, that this phase of the work will be investigated, for while there are other physiological problems, the elucidation of this one would round out the objectives of this experimental program as I have visualized them for the past fifteen years.
0003399
Mr. j. h . Kirby
3
April 15, 1B63
With respect to the further interests of Ethyl Corpor n ciu Pont and other units of the lead antiknock intlUfJtrU on ^and of
'abroad), I think I should also say, for the record, that6!**
significance of the lead in the air of American citie^wiif0 k u need investigation from time to time, especial iy in .. Probably
technological developments in this industry or in other*'
iurtiier
result in an increase in the lead in the air, (for the
i*'* aay
is the important issue, regardless of how and by whom it * roblfcEI
altered). Because of this, and because of the neceaait
an awareness of this problem within the industry, woiif 8iaintaining
preservation of the competence required to deal with it v + S i ^
in my judgment, would be well advised to encourage the v
, Corporation>
to continue its investigations in this field ana to mat * ^er^ng Laboratory'
position in this field of knowledge and research.
n ain *ts exPfert
I have little doubt that these matters will be dealt wit 4
well, without any continuing advice or reminder from m<. ^ ^
^
should be less than faithful to ay responsibilities
^1
than properly appreciative of the personal *no ^w,?' ? ,1 as less
oi very nearly a metis, i f I ,,ere to rel, , o m u
relatlons" >'E
That is why I take the trouble to express m y n t- .u lr,
assumPtionii*
timCi
1 1 u BOw*i detail at this
I am sure that you will not be interested 1 the
wh. , ^
experiments have been designed and conducted, i cxpJbt
ur
Mr. Perdue will be much concerned either, on th*
a U C a that
Kirby will be concerned about both the problem ane our a & U a * ,^r * Gt`orEe
upon it, and I would like for him to see thia latte* .,,T*?6 ,0i attacil
it is available for his consideration.
itnow tiiat
Sincerely yours,
Robert A. KeaoeT#~i * w~
RAK:ss cc: Frank Prlncl, M.l>. Enclosure: Request Sheet
RE 0003400
/ ETHYL CORPORATION
No.__ 2
TOXICOLOGICAL PROJECT REQUEST
Date_5/*6/e;i
Title:
METABOLISM OF LEAD-IN-AIR
State of Development:
CONTINUING________________
Proposed Use: _________ BACKGROUND PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA
Requested by: _ ... ETHYL CORPORATION
Department
NEW YORK:
Location
-----
Investigation of the basic physiology of lead absorption, excxetion a w
Purpose of Project:retentlon* (Present experiments directed toward establishment of Uai of safety for lead-content'of ambient air.)------------------- ------
Description:
Discussion: Since 1950, a study of the behavior of Inhaled, particulate lead t l
human subjects has been conducted in respiratory chambers at the
.
Kettering Laboratory, under carefully controlled laboratory conditions:.
Nine human subjects have been or are being investigated over extended "
periods (over 5 years continuously in some cases). During this period r , :
time, careful baseline data on various physiological functions and on
Intake and output of lead have been obtained from each subject over p e r w
of 6 or more months, followed by respiratory exposure to a careful v K rjf `5
trolled concentration and dispersion (sise of particles) of finely dlvic*.
lead - in the air of the chamber, over a period of a year or more, aftt/
which, comparable data have been gathered over variable periods of tia*
until the subject returned to his original state, with respect to the
intake and output of lead.
To be Assigned to:
THE KETTERING LABORATORY
(Laboratory)
Estimated Cbst: $
$25,000.00
Estimated Completion Date:
1963 (This request)
Approvals:
CINCINNATI
(Locationt
0003401
Medical Director
Department Head
_________________________ Operating Committee