Document 2RzJ9em42grJkOq7wv3xqD9p

Juno 1957 ns ox 21*1 'aloan, Colorado Dear Mr3. i'cblvain: Tour letter of May 20, addressed to Ethyl Corporation, has come to me, as Medical Director, for reply* the handling of pasoline containing tetraethyl lead at filling stalions, bulk stations and refineries has never caused any cases of lead ^oisonion in the Uni tod States during bne entire period of its use. There wore cases of poisoning among men engaged in the ::ianu~ facture oi` totraotuyl lead during the early period of the develop" .rent o.f manufac tuning processes, and there was a tine men such. eases occurred in connection wat/i the cleaning ana repairing of large .gasoline storage sanko, (in which the type of exposure is totally dlfforent), It is these cases stab have been responsible for the idea, which still exists in some parts of the country, that the ordinary handling of gasoline is dangerous from tne aspect of its lead content. The truth of the matter is that this problem was ihvestIfatea very extensively in the early cays of the use of leaded . y.solino, and it was shown that -'o such danger existed under ordinary cireurnstancos The reason bach of this safety is taut the lead content of tne pasoline is so low that, (1) chore is no measurable absorption cf load during contact of the gasoline with the skin, and (2) the vapor given off from gasoline 1.;. open containers contains only negligible amounts of lead. It is for tuese reasons that loaded . giaollne could be marketed, for if the facta sad Peon otherwise, this type of gasoline could never have teen used. I an quit sure, therefore, that hr was not poisoned by tetraethyl load and that oho physicians as hie Veterans * hospital wore correct in bkuk.r opinion. It Is cf some importance in this connection, to know that the absorption of load in Unis form docs not damage trie peripheral nerves so as to produce a neuritis. At least, we have never seen a case of neuritis even in the cases tnat nave boon known to bo due to the absorption of tetraethyl load in large quantities in the operations to welch I referred previously. file report of the finding of load in your husbandfs urine "at the upper limits of normal'' tends in itself (dependent upon how and chore the analyses were carried out) to show that be had not absorbed N13178 -(2)- June 6, 19^7 abnormal quantities of lead as tetraethyl lead or otherwise, since if he had, absorbed dangerous quantities, hue amount found in the urine should have been well above the normal limits * Despite what I have said above, If your husband's physician would like to have further tests made of the lead content of tae blood and urine, we would be glad to send him containers with instructions for the collection of these samples and will report our results to him, at no cost to you. As to the precautions which should be taken by persons who handle gasoline of any kind, regardlessof the presence or absence of tetraetnyl lead, it should be reco nised that the danger of injury lies in the gasoline itself. It is irritating to the skin, and some persons cannot endure even brief minor types of contact. la general, people with healthy skin can nave some contact without much trouble, but prolonged contact, especially contact of the skin with clothing or other fabrics that are saturated with gasoline, will usually cause severe burns and always causes some damage. It is wise, therefore, to avoid seen contact as much as possible, and to wash the skin clean a .ad free of ; asoline as promptly as possible, whenever such contact occurs The vapors of gasoline also cause dizziness, nausea, drunkenness and, in sufficient concentration, unconsciousnes3 and death, exposure to gasoline by inhalation, therefore, should be attended by con siderable caution. People get somewhat accustomed to taese vapors and often disregard them without suffering damage or illness, and illness short of fatality is usually brief in duration, but neverthe less there is always danger. Of course, as everyone ..noow3, bnere are always dangers from fire and explosion in the handling of gasoline People tend to become careless about this also, and so fires and explosions occur from time to time, and sonetines lives are loo t ,, I trust that this letter answers your questions, but if you wish to write further, do not hesitate to do so. Very truly yours, AK:ef Hobert A. Keaoe, A. D. KE 003 26i Dear Mr3. McSlvaint Vour latter of May 23, addressed to thyl Corporation, has come to me, as Medical Director, for reply. The handling of gasoline containing tetraethyl lead at filling stations,, bulk stations and refineries has never caused any cases of lead poisoning'the United states during the entire period/ of its use. There were cases of poisoning among men engaged in the dnanufacture of tetraethyl lead during. the early period of the development of rannufactraring processes, and there ";as a time '/"'hen such cases occurred in connection with the cleaning and repairing of largo gasoline storage tanks, (in which the type of exposure is totally different). It is these cases that have been responsible for the idea, v/hich still exists in some parts of the country, that the ordinary handling of gasoline is dangerous from the aspect of its lead content. The truth of The matter is that this problem was investigated very extensively in the early days of the use of leaded gasoline, and it was shown that no such danger existed under ordinary circumstances. The reason back of this safety is that the lead content of the gasoline is so low that, ('/ } there i~ ao measurable absorption o lead during contact of the gasoline with the nkin, and (Z) the vapor given off from gasoline in open containers contains only negligible amounts of lead. It is for these reasons that leaded gasoline could be marketed, for if the facta had been otherwise, this type of gasoline could never have been used. I am quite sure, therefore, that .Mr. vma not poisoned by tetraethyl lead and that the physicians at the Veterans' Hospital were correct in their opinion. It ia of some importancc.in this connection, to know that the absorp tion of lead in this form does not damage the peripheral nerves ao as to produce a neuritis. At least, we have never aeon a case of neuritis even in the cases that have been known to he due to the absorption of tetraethyl load in large quantities in the operations to which I referred previously. The report of the finding of lead in your husband's urine "at the upper Limits of normal" tends in itself (dependent upon how and whore the analyses were ftg 0012562 t- {2} - June 6, 1957 carried out) to show that he had not absorbed abnormal quantities of lead as tetraethyl lead or other-vise, since if he had absorbed dangerous quantities, the amount found in the urine should have been '.veil above the normal limits. Despite what I have said above, if your husband's physician would like to have further tests made of the lead content of the blood and urine, we would be glad to send hl.n containers with instructions for the collection of those samples and will report our results to him, at no cost to you. As to the precautions which should be taken by persona who handle gasoline of any kind, regardless of the presence or absence of tetraethyl lead, it should be recognized that the danger of in jury lies in the gasoline itself. It is irritating to the skin, and some persons cannot endure even brief minor types of contact. In general, people with, hbalthy skin can have some contact without much trouble, but prolonged contact, especially contact of the akin with clothing or other fabrics that a re saturated with gasoline, will usually cause severe bums and always causes some damage. It is wise, therefore, to avoid such contact as much as possible, and to wash the *kin clean and free of gasoline as promptly as possible, wh3~ever such contact occurs. The vapors of gasoline also cau.se dizziness, nausea, drunkenness and, in sufficient concentration, -unconsciousness and death. Exposure to gasoline by inhalation, therefore, should be attended by cormidcrable caution. People get somewhat accustomed to these vapors and often disregard them without suffering damage or illness, and illness short of fatality is usually brief in duration, but nevertheless there is always danger. Of course, as everyone knows, there are always dangers from fira and explosion in the handling of gasoline. People tend to become careless about this also, and so fires and explosions occur from time to time, and sometimes lives arc loot. I trust that this letter answers your questions, but if you wish to write further, do not hesitate to do so. Very truly yours. RAK ef C.C.: Robert A. Kehos, M. .0. Dr. L>. YV. Sanders (Blind) Mr. A. F. Ryan Ethyl Corporation, Denver, Colorado (Blind) ,A m-mf dbl n v May 26, I9g7 Ethyl Corporation. Boston -uildlhg Denver, Colo. Dean Sir: I ho.vo been tolcl that you might be able to give me some information concerning lead poisoning.caused by in haling gasoline fumes and handing leaded gasoline Over two gears ago my husband was quite ill with neur itis which some of the Doctors that examined him thought might be caused by lead from gasoline, ho has been a Commission Agent for Continental Oil Co. for over nine years and has never been careful in the way he handled gasoline in deliver ing the products, at the time he was ill one test was taken showing the urinary lead concentration was at the upper'limits of normal, however when he entered Veteran's Hospital in Denver they seemed to convince him he did not have lead poison ing although thoy din not take any further tests on him. In all this time I have felt something has affected his nerves and he has never had the energy or physical stamina he had before, he was ill. : ' | Mould you- be able to send me information! about the effects of lead from gasoline, also what tests would have to be taken to determine if he might have chronic poisoning, also what percautions should be taken when .working around gasoline. I have been told so many differentjthings about it that 1 wouldlike information from the Company which makes the lead. i \ Sincerely, N13178.01 K* 0012564