Document 1QNbeNkx6jxRpaM62Dzmgy1bE
February 6, 19Gl
M r. Roger C. Furst
Ritter, Boesel Sc Holden
240 Huron Street
,
Toledo 4, Ohio
Re: Industrial Commission ffO. D. 7104 - 22
Dear Mr. Furst:
The statement in your letter of February 1st, 1931, of your
understand1^ what I said with reference to further analytical
determinations of the lead content of Mr.
blood at this
time, is entirely correct. No such determination at this time
could possibly have any meaning, in relation to any exposure to
lead which
have incurred at Willys Motors, Inc.,
or elsewhere p r i o ^ t o May 1, 1954. The same statement applies
to the results of any analysis (or analyses) of Mr.
urine for its lead content in 1959. The reason for this state
of affairs is as follows:"
Following the termination of an abnormal or occupational exposure to lead, the exposed individual tends to excrete lead from his body at an elevated rate for some time. This period of elevated loss of lead from the body varies from several weeks, to some months up to eighteen months. By this time, it has dropped to a point within the normal range, but it may continue for some time, thereafter, in the upper normal range. This phenomenon has been studied carefully and in our experience eighteen months ip about the longest time over which abnormal quantities of lead may be found in the urine*
. The same is true of the blood in which the concentration of lead decreases at first fairly rapidly and then more 3lowly until it reaches the normal range, remaining for some time in the upper normal range, that is between 0.04 and 0.05 mg. per 100 grams of whole blood.
Only if exposure to lead is resumed, whether in industry or elsewhere, do the concentrations of lead in the urine or blood return to elevated levels. In other words, the lead absorbed during abnormal exposure is lost from the body, after the exposure has been terminated, and after eighteen or more months one cannot find abnormal quantities in the body.
^0000196This'; answers your question, I believe
Very truly yours,
N 5290