Document 3J4o81e0Y8QarZ3o0a02o257O

January 5, 1954 Mr. Manfred Bowditch Director of Health and Safety Lead Industries Association 420 Lexington. Avenue New York 17, New York Dear Manfred: The old question of the tolerable concentration, of lead compounds continues to come up from time to time in various ways and from various sources. So far as I am concerned, while I recognise the weakness of the present position, I see no great advantage in changing it at this time, when to do so would he merely to substitute another unknown, or a series of unknowns, for a rather loose rule of thumb. As you may be aware, we are investigating certain aspects of this problem now by adequate means, and we shall have some of the answers eventually, in a form that will justify and even demand recognition. I don't want to indulge in'fguestirnates" at this time, for it was precisely for the purpose of avoiding such illogical and unproductive efforts that we began these experiments. If the matter is to be opened up at all, it could best be done (to death) by Z37. If, however, as I suspect, this Committee of A. 3. A. is >^ead, the subject will, of necessity, be considered further sometime by A.CGIH. My feelings about Z37 are somewhat mixed. I regret its demise, but it was too cumbersome and too representative of too many necessarily clashing interests, to accomplish anything. It was a beautiful example of too much organization with too little ideation. We might about as well put the matters at issues to a general popular vote. It is likely that I am somewhat jaundiced by my unwillingness to spend more time attending meetings (of all kinds) that are regularly or often unproductive. I have work to do at home, but I spend too little of my time there to accomplish it. Sincerely yours, RAK ef Robert A. Kehoe, M. D.