Document 39jLw41bM5ODGXBBGzE1j0qD

Ethyl Corporation Medical Department I. Historically, for many years, we have been involved In the study of the toxicity of organic lead compounds. A. The Investigation of the action of lead on the body began in the Depart* ment of Physiology of the College of Medicine at the University f Cincinnati In 1925. B. The Kettering Laboratory, where the Medical Department of the Ethyl Corporation has always been housed, was opened in 1930-. Since that time, the Laboratory has concerned itself primarily with the effects of lead on man. 1. The Laboratory also concerns Itself with all phases of environ mental health; beryllium, vanadium, high-energy fuels, carcino genesis, as well as all practical aspects of industrial hygiene 2, The Laboratory has a large chemical laboratory in which many varied analyses are done, including approximately lead per year, usually related to human exposure. 3. There is an exposure chamber in which two subjects have and are being exposed an atmosphere contaminated with lead. A total lead balance is being carried out on these two human subjects. 4. Because of a continuing and expanding demand for the laboratory services, a new addition to the Laboratory has been started and will be completed in the fall of 1963. II. Since the Medical Department was formed, its prime concern has been the tox* icity and hazards of tetraethyllead. A. About forty years ago when the manufacturing of thfcs product began, thirteen deaths soon occurred which could be attributed to this chemical. Since that time there has been no question but that this prosuct is toxic. EC4658 F"QO?OP XB. Based on early Investigations, procedures were set up for safe hand ling and since that time, there has been a continued eff rt to Improve the safety procedures. 1. When unforeseen incidents occurred that resulted In poisoning, intensive study lead to corrective measures) most cases occurred sporadically under certain conditions that have since been cor rected 2. Since those early days of development, manufacturing, and ex ploitation of this compound, there have been only 88 cases of tetraethyllead poisoning in the United States and Canada* 3. In general, these safety procedures have been carefully fol lowed, 4* There has probably never been a poisonous product, which in relation to the toxicity and total volume produced and used annually, that has a better record than TEL with respect to the rarity of illnesses associated with handling and distribution. 5. There is littly doubt that the procedures have been success ful in promoting safe handling. 6. The work involving tetraethyllead can now be done with a mini mum risk to the workmen in manufacturing plants and in the '~rf, , ^ ,. J ,, Ify petroleum companies. vv//y/ / jrW a -y- *- r?. ' * " '* ' j - j **It is axiomatic in industry, that any chemical can be manufactured and used /*- safely with the proper knowledge, no matter how toxic the chemical." III. I will discuss the hazardous Jobs involving the handling of tetraethyl lead, in the order of their hazard, discussing the most hazardous first. A. Tank cleaning and repairing F-00?03 1. Though tank cleaning has produced most of the cases of poison ing, there is no questi n but what it can be done safely if safety procedures are carefully f llowed. *' \ is EC4659 ( B...Manufacturing 1. It has been amply demonstrated that this compoud can be pr duced safely. 2. The real dange occurs when manufacturing is attempted without the proper know-how. C. Handling of tetraethyllead at refineries 1. The hazard occurs when the product is transferred from the ship ping to the storage tanks or during the blending into the gaso line. 2. The equipment involved in these operations has been so perfected and the safety procedure so carefully outlined that no illnesses have occurred among 15t000 workers who have been engaged in these operations, some who have been working up to 30 years. 3. When these workers have been studied for the lead content in their urine (which is a measure of their exposure), it is ap parent that they have essentially had no exposure* It can then be said that their job is essentially non-hazardpus. IV. When tetraethyllead is mixed with gasoline in the concentrations generally used, it is not a hazard to man. A. The standard concentration established in.the United States in 1925 of 3cc./U. S. gallon was baaed on coonercial practice at that time rather than on hygienic considerations. B. The Surgeon General of the Public Health Service approved in 1934 a concentration of 4.5 cc./gallon solely for aviation gasoline. C. In 1959, the Surgeon General approved the raising of the concentration of TEL in gasoline to 4 cc./gallon. His decision was based on the following* F -00204 1. At 4 cc. there were no observed adverse effects n engines. 2. The studies that were done on auto exhausts revealed that the EC4660 ( 1 lead c ntent did not change appreciably by g ing from 3 t 4 cc./ gallon. It also appeared that the change would not Influence smog formation. D. It was felt that this Increase in TEL concentration would not increase the hazards involved in the manufacture and distribution of leaded gasoline. E. This change would not significantly increase the hazard to public health. V. TML (tetramethyllead) is an effective antiknock compound with certain desire- able characteristics. This product has about the same toxicity as TEL. A. Sufficient data has been accumulated such that the Public Health Service could state the increasing Jthe concentration of TML from 2.06 cc./gallon to 2.74 cc,/gallon would not increase the hazard to industry or to the public. B. It is also felt that any mixture of these related compounds can be used up to 3, concentration of 4.23 grams of lead per gallon* '-WW . fib C VI. Considerable effort has been expended studying the contribution of auto exhaust to atmospheric pollution. A. There.has been an bverall decrease in the concentration of lead in the atmosphere. B. Alkyl lead can be detected on heavily traveled streets* Such positive findings are inconstant and represent only 1-3Z of the total lead in the atmosphere. C* Though the lead-in-air has not altered appreciably, in Los Angeles county where there is a large number of autos, there has been a continuing upward trend of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, but no change in sulfur dioxide. These trends have been attributed to the autos. AE-OO? .... vii. The function of the Medical Department of the Ethyl Corporation in -------- EC4661 (( \ is to provide the best possible medical surveillance for Ethyl1s customers such that those refinery workers who are exposed to rganic lead compounds will not be adversely effected by their exposure. A local physician will be selected as the Ethyl medical consultant. A* The latest information regarding the toxic action and effects of the organic lead compounds (as well as the other Ethyl products) will be provided to the local medical consultant. Information will also be provided concerning the treatment of poisoning cases. B. The local technical sales representative will coordinate his activ ities with those of the medical consultant. C. Representatives of the Medical Department will visit the refinery as necessary to provide adequate medical service. fa/! < -o) r' < -f-; v EC4662 ~00?06