Document 5Lw3zG1x1ObOjvyGr946vLJRD

U. S. N A V A L O R D N A N CE LA B O R A T O R Y CORONA . CA L IFORNIA IN REPL Y REFER TO: 06:EGE:ggh A937 31 July 1959 Dr. Robert A. Kehoe, M. D The Kettering Laboratory College of Medicine - Eden Avenue Cincinnati 19, Ohio \ "i Dear D r . Kehoe: Because of my position as Medical Officer at the Laboratory, Dr. Haber has asked me to reply to your letter, as the hazards his department faces are my problems as much as his. We wish to give you our sincere thanks for your generous personal res ponse to Dr. Haber's letter of inquiry. ' In dealing with these organo-metallic compounds we have been at a loss as to what to look for in the way of early symptoms and clinical find ings in workers.who have suffered an over-exposure to these substances. I have been performing urinary porphyrin tests, routine urinalyses, and blood counts (looking for anemia and basophilic stippling). I had doubts whether these traditional screening techniques were sufficient when dealing with these new compounds. The printed material which you sent suggested that the lipoid solubility of such compounds would, lead to deposition in neural tissue, resulting in early C.H.S. symptoms, but that the toxic mechanism remained that of the metal involved. This basic principle has been very helpful in understanding our problem. ' Analytical procedures have presented a very serious problem, as we lack the personnel, equipment and time to perform them ourselves. The one air sampling we have had performed by conventional techniques gave nega tive results, though the offensive odor was exceedingly strong at the time. I presume some modification of technique, such as the reaction with iodine, will have to be used in future analyses. Again, the material which you sent was helpful in suggesting the cause of our negative results. At the present time a visit by our personnel to your laboratory is not feasible, but the gracious invitation is sincerely appreciated by all of us. It is possible that utilization of these new compounds may increase to the point that necessity will force us to accept your invitation with gratitude. Again, I thank you for your kind attention to our problem. Respectfully yours, N 6007