Document 2qwpXgaE2ma8m912jM3d4dM4g

J. Sari Smith, M. D., Acting XKXXJSJSaE0X3!C>SO5X2im^^ H EALT H CO M M ISSIO N ER CITY O F ST. LOUIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE DIVISION OF HEALTH October 25, 1943 OFFICE OF THE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SECTION 62 Municipal Courts Building Dr. Robert A. Kehoe, M. D. Kettering Laboratory University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, 19, Ohio Dear Doctor Kehoe: Perhaps you could be of assistance to us in the problem of !lblood lead" values, versus "urine lead" values, as indices of lead ab sorption. . In making surveys of industries where there is a lead absorption hazard, it has been our practice to obtain blood samples for chemical analysis. However, in some cases, management, and many employees, object to venapuncture and for other reasons as well, prefer to have the data obtained from urine samples. We have always thought that the probability of contamination of urine samples from employees clothing and skin, from dusty atmosphere in the plant, etc., was a factor having great weight. We refer to the practice of collection samples in a plant or factory, or plant dispensary and not in a hospital or in a physician's private office. The difficulty in obtaining reliable urine samples from female employees was another reason for us to use the "blood lead" test. Recently, there has been an increase of urine samples sub mitted to our laboratory, from both industrial physicians and physicians in private practice. This has led us to contemplate the idea of dropping the "blood lead!! test for industrial surveys, and to substitute the "urine lead" test therefor. Any advice, or suggestions you could give us, in this matter, would be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours, . NX3953 BWL: D B. w . Lewa s , Ai. 0. Industrial Hygiene Physician Industrial Hygiene Section