Document 70o8QQBkRqVG5nVDDDGo0zD0B

INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH KETTERING LABORATORV (513) 672-5700 University of Cincinnati Medicai Center 3223 Eden Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45267 February 11, 1980 Lawrence E. Blanchard, Exec. V.P. Ethyl Corporation 360 South Fourth Street Richmond, Virginia 23217 Dear Larry: I noted with some surprise the increase in the check of Equitable Life at the first of the year (surprise because of the size of increase which did not appear to be a mere increase in the interest in the initial sum). I found out only a day or two ago that Ethyl Corporation had authorized additional annuities as of January 1, 1980. I cannot let this go by without expressing my thanks for the additional thought to the welfare of myself and Mrs. Kehoe. It is not that we were in need of additional consideration, despite the "fixed" nature of our income and the effects of an in flationary economic situation at this time, for our needs have been well cared for. But to be still thought of as wards of Ethyl Corporation (its people, yourself, in particular) is a warm feeling. Lucile (with whom you are not well acquainted) and I have been isolated to a considerable extent, by our disabilities, and the change from a very active social and professional life, has been too dramatic to be satisfying. You have had no reason to appreciate the changes in the University of Cincinnati and especially in its College of Medicine, but they have been sufficient to make a different world in which we live. During the past ten years, the faculty and the student body have been more than doubled, while quite a few members of the former faculty have retired I among them. The result is this, outside of our own specific field, we have but few close friends or associates. I am not complaining bitterly, I hope, for such is life. But Lucile and I (she with a great talent for people, and I not too far behind) often feel very much alone. I think, at this time in particular, I might explain to you just what I am doing, or attempting to do, and the relationship of what I am doing, not specifically for Ethyl Corporation, but for the lead industries and for the community in general. This, I think is due you, since I took it very lightly in speaking to you of the work of Stanley Gross, which was backed partially by Ethyl Corporation and especially N22135 Lawrence E. Blanchard, Exec. V.P. Page Two February 11, 1980 by some of Ethyl's technical people, some of whom still think, I believe, that I let him down in his (what I consider to be) bungling efforts. The facts of this matter are thus: After having spent a great deal of time and effort, first in the study of Ethyl's difficulties, and then, later when I undertook to understand the problems of dealing with the ordinary compounds of lead produced and used by the Lead Industries, I came to the conclusion that since the primary problem of the toxic effects of lead had never been studied properly, it was necessary to do so. Accordingly I set up an investigation of people exposed to lead in the Laboratory under the various conditions that had existed in industry. This had been neglected systematically by the physicians in institutions of learning and of training (largely because it was considered to be the business of the individual States in which the industries carried out their primary work. It is very strange that this situation, with respect to lead, had existed for more than two centuries, but so it was, and it was somewhat presumptuous of me to undertake to change such a long period of ignorance, by learning the facts experimentally. But such was the case and I spent almost thirty-five years in this detailed investigation. By that time it was time for me to retire and I did so without publishing, in one piece, the report of the work. Then came my cerebral hemorrhage and it was months and years before I recovered to such an extent as to begin the preparation of a report. Dr. Gross began to study the available documentation of the work before I recovered sufficiently to appreciate the problem and I welcomed what he had done and was doing when I began to attempt to get it all together. Incidentally, his work had been recognized and aided by technical people, Sobel and others. None of these men however, had been in on the initial work and none of them understood what I undertook to accomplish. I say this not critically. They had no opportunity to do so, for Dr. Gross, himself, had no concept of either the problem or of my purpose in undertaking it. I did not realize this myself, for I was not capable at first of doing so. I found out slowly and hesitantly, but I was so grateful for Dr. Gross' effort that I glossed over my critique until I could no longer endure the situation. Then I began feeble efforts to get him out of the way, but that did not work, and at last I had to tell him the truth. But that did not work either partly because Sobel, Ter Haar and others, chiefly Hesselberg, believed that they and Gross and I could work things out. That was impossible and at length I had to say that I would have no more to do with it. That was the most brutal thing I have ever done and I am still upset about it, so much so that I tell you this sad, silly story Lawrence E. Blanchard, Exec. V.P Page Three February 11, 1980 of the performance of a lame brain in a somewhat delicate situation. Well, so much for all that. I am now trying with somewhat damaged skill and poor vision - my eyes are gradually failing because of damage in the cerebral visual center. One of our ablest secretaries is providing the vision (which I lack) to put this material together in a book. It is moving along slowly and if my various faculties hold together long enough to finish what I have planned, it will be a fairly good job. The goal is to provide the standards for the safety of men (and women) who work in the lead trades. I believe it will be necessary, if possible, to exclude women in the child bearing range of age, from the lead-using industries. But whether or not, it will be possible to do this is another matter. We shall have to go through a very confused and confusing social period before we can be rational again. Just how long this will take is not apparent at present. Aside from that problem, however, the way seems clear technically speaking. As you can understand, therefore I am very anxious to get this job finished. Unfortunately I am slow, and I dare not let myself get exercised over that for I dare not bring on another illness. Thus far I am generally healthy and and even tough physically and I am taking this as easily as I can and under good medical supervision. I must apologize further for this long and detailed letter. However I feel much better for having written it, and I can only hope I have not imposed upon you in writing You have been kind and considerate of me in matters much less important to me, and thus have invited - so to speak - my frankness. With kindest regards RAK:di Robert A. Kehoe, M.D. Professor Emeritus of Occupational Medicine