Document 5k6x1XE4kYkkQQMLk5rJaZO8e

October 23, 19Q8 George F. Kirby, Pn.D., President Ethyl Corporation P.O. Box 1486 Baton Rouge, La. 70321 Dear George: it nas occurred to me that you would be keenly interested in knowing the status of tae investigation concerned with a tolerable level of lead in the general atmosphere, especially at this time when the goal of the work is near at hand. I shall have to sit doWi. with all of the data obtained during the past several years duri:,,, which this has been the point of attack, and see what I can come up with. This can be done wniie t-ie observations on our present experimental subject (who is out of phase with the schedule through no fault of his own) are being completed. There is little doubt in my mind that his behavior will follow closely the pattern of the performance shown in the present report. This obviously sketcny report was prepared at the request of Dr. Plancey who had to report to a committee of rt.P.I. and the results had to be picked up just where they were. The latter are quite sufficient, however, to reveal the important outcome of the experiment. I have sent copies of the report, incomplete as it is to a number of the persons most concerned in Ethyl Corporation, duPont and Lead-Industries ..association. I shall be going to Holland, by way of London, at the end of November, to participate (by invitation) in a Symposium in Amsterdam with a number of outstanding European men in the field of Occupational Health, in which standards and practices in the lead-using trades will be the subject. A report is to be prepared for presentation to the International issociation for Occupational Health at the Sixteenth Congress in Tokyo in September of 1969. I have no doubt that there will be discussion of the standard for the general atmosphere. I've been asked to discuss the papers being presented (which have been sent to me) in some detail and to prepare a record (later) of my comments. It is an opportunity that I would not wish to miss. While in London, I shall meet with Sevan and others, and Dr, Barry has asked me to visit the plants in Cheshire to follow-up a bit on my last visit. I am pleased, of course, to do this. I would not like to anticipate the outcome of a critical and statistical examination of the information obtained from these experiments by predicting what the "tolerable level" - that is the precise number that emerges from the data alone - will be, but I think there will be a basis in theory that will emerge, and that this can be tailored further, to some degree, by physiological considerations. As you may know, I've been exceedingly reluctant to offer guesses, us a substitute for reasonably firm experimental evidence, on this highly important matter. If a number for lead comes logically out of the experimental data, it will be the first example of such an event. N13354 ij 3. f* 0 6 J George F. Kirby, Ph.D Page 2 October 23, 1968 In view of the concluding salutation of your last letter, I am happy to tell you that I had a thoroughly delightful vacation in which not the least*important factor was marvelous fishing and riding beautiful trails on horseback. The best fishiii" of course, was the farthest away on the trails. Sincerely, fUK :wp enclosure Robert a . Kehoe, M.D. Professor Emeritus of Occupational Medicine P.S. I have not forgotten the sequel to my original report to you. I hor-e to '"et at it shortly. " illK K 0013 84