Document 5Dj2D5yEkM9v2wXKmYqY4yVBe

< F E L IX EDGAR W O R M S E R ,m e s i o e N T . B R O W N E L L ,v rcc p r c s i d e n t . M A R T I N O , VICE PRESIDENT RO B ER T LINOLEV ZIEG FELO , SEC R ETA R Y -TR EA SU R ER -1-20 LEXIN GTON AVEN UE NEW YORK 17,N.Y. MANFRED BOWDITCH D IRECTO R O F HEALTH AND SAFETY December 10, 1953 Robert A. Kehoe, M.D., Director Kettering Laboratory University of Cincinnati - Eden Avenue Cincinnati 19, Ohio Dear Bob: The newspaper item of which a copy is herewith, believed to be from the Ft. Worth Telegram of Novem ber 16th, has just been brought to my attention. I would very much welcome your comments on the validity of the statement attributed to Commander Schoeni in the concluding paragraph. Sincerely, cc: Mr. Costello k E 0014874 AIR FORCE S SPEEDY F-95A. H eat High Intensity Sounds New Dangers to Crews Created As Jets Develop Greater Thrust WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (CTS). matic drill 90, and a piston en and photoflash bulbs at 323 feet. Jet planes blowing 700-mile-anhour hot blasts from their tailp i p e s and generating 10,000 gine type airplane 110. "The new planes are expected to boost this noise to 160 or 170 decibels," Schoeni said. "Each Another hazard to jet airmen is from th tetraethyl lead used in many jet fuels. Mechanics and others inhaling jet fumes could pounds of thrust are creating increase of three in decibel num succumb to lead poisoning, Scho new hazards, according to Lt. bers means a doubling in noise eni said. Cmdr. Arthur L. Schoeni, editor of Naval Aviation News. intensity--poise at 160 decibels is 1,000 times louder than at 130 --and tomorrow's jets will pro Writiing in Pegasus, monthly duce noise in those more volum magazine published by the Fair inous ranges." child Engine and Airplane Cor He said the ear-bursting din of poration, Schoeni told of the new jet planes on aircraft carriers, troubles that plague those who where crews work only six feet have to work and live with the from the tailpipes, is worrying powerful planes. flight surgeons. The only protec Aside from the usual dangers tion available is, small rubber ear of being scorched by the jet's plugs, uncomfortable to wear, fiery blasts or being sucked into which provide some relief from the air intake, airmen have to high frequency noise but little worry about the damage that can help against the low frequency be done to their nervous systems sound waves in which most jet by the high intensity sounds re engine noise occurs. leased by the big engines and by the high powered radar waves. RADAR HAZARD, TOO. "Today's jet engines deliver The intense noise can cause 10,000 pounds of thrust com some persons to collapse. Small pared to 3,000 for the better jets animals have been killed by noise of post World War II days," Scho in experiments. eni said. "Because the giant en "Another problem which has gines today produce more power flight surgeons of all /military to drive bigger and bigger planes, services worrying overtime is that they also create vastly greater of new higher powered radar amounts of noise. which soon will be placed in ^ "Military flight surgeons, par night fighters and high altitude ticularly in the Navy, say the radar `snooper' planes," Schoeni level of noise already has reached said. the limit of human endurance. "Personnel who unwittingly Any increase such as will come walk in front of such sets send with greater use of afterburners, ing out high powered squirts of rocket or ramjet engines, will re electricity may suffer physical quire new protections so that damage. Technicians who work they will not deafen men who on radar avoid its dangers but work near them." others less wary inay suffer eye He said the average person can or internal organ injuries with stand noise up to a level of 130 to out knowing it." 140 decibels. (A decibel is a Powerful radar beams have measure of sound.) A whisper or been known to kill laboratory rustle of leaves creates 10 deci animals and might affect the bels, the romantic conversation eyes, gall bladder, urinary blad N18544.01