Document 0JdZeRzJ4QpOYV742YawgmpzV

July 19, I9I4JO Dv M.N. Arenas The Administrator VV. de B&taafache Petroleum Mi j. Planjoe-by-Palembang Sumatra, Dt K X* Dear Doctor Arends: It is my understanding, as the result of conversation with Mr. Tully of the Associated Ethyl Company Ltd., that you arc responsible for the medical supervision of workmen engaged in the mixing of Ethyl Fluid with gasoline at the Pladjoe plant. I am very glad to find that this work of supervision can be handled in this fashion. I hope, moreover, that if any difficulties of any kind occur, you will communi cate with me since although a letter will take some time to reach me, I can possibly be of some assistance to you. Generally speaking, the whole problem is one of prevention and no difficulties of any kind should occur if the plant is operated properly and if the men follow the regulations, file dangers of exposure to tetraethyl lead are quite consideraDle, but they can be completely prevented by means of proper care and suitable equipment. Our ex perience in this connection has been vary good indeed in that there have been no cases of lead poisoning among the thousands of workmen who are carrying on these activities in the United States. In accordance with our usual custom, I am sending you under separate cover, a series of published articles of various phases of this problem and I hope you will find them of interest, and that they will be useful to you in considering the potential hazards of the occupation. Also, I believe they will put at rest any apprehension which you might have concerning the dangers involved in the handling of the gasoline mixed with proper quantities of Ethyl Fluid. There is only one problem which is not stressed in the articles which I will send you which should receive your special attention. Your people should be warned of the necessity of exercising great care in the avoidance of lead exposure in dealing out tanks which have been used for the prolonged storage of leaded gasoline. Serious difficulties have occurred as 2mm a consequence of inadequate precautions in connection with this work* The regulations which we have provided to safeguard this work are entirely adequate for the purpose if applied, and I trust that you will exercise your influence in seeing that your people carry out these instructions faithftilly. Among the articles which I am sending you will be found a memorandum to medical consultants which will present our general policies and ideas on this subject. If there are any questions con cerning any phase of it, I hope you will write to me concerning them. > With best wishes and kindest professional regards, I am Cordially yours. RAKsia Robert A. Kehoe, M.D. HE 0013.3 J.