Document 78RGvaDZ7yO3BL2Yx7bK9px6

ON Till fiWNXFlCftNCE OF TIE CONTRIBUTION MASS BY STACK FUMES FROM A STEEL PLANT OF REPUBLIC STEEL' CORPORATION TO THE LEAD CONTENT OF THE: ATMOSPHERE IS THE VICINITY OF THE PLANT The hypothesis that there is any significant association between lead poisoning among children, in South Chicago or elsewhere, ana the inhalation of lead from the ambient air under ordinary conditions or under those related to the lead in the plus of sisok and fuss from the plant of Republic Steel, (as indicated by the available data), is wholly unrealistic, and la, in fact, absurd. Trio sources of the lead which causes lead poisoning in children are not mysterious. It is well known that these children have ingested lead in large quantities, derived for the fsost part, from objects in their hoses coated with lead-containing paint, or that they, along with other members of their household, have been subjected to high concentrations of air-borne lead as the result of the use of highly contaminated, scavenged waste materials (chiefly, battery boxes) impregnated with lead, and burned in a stove or fireplace within their homes. There have been a few exceptions to this rule in specific instances, but the investigations J of many years have served to pinpoint the problem of lead poisoning among small children, so far as the sources of lead are concerned. The contri bution made by the inhalation of low concentrations of lead in the air (of the order of magnitude under consideration here), is insignificant. It say be of incidental importance to point out that there is no reason to believe that children develop lead intoxication ore readily, in the basic physiologic sense, than do adults. The threshold 0018641 - 2- level of lead in the.blood, which la necessary to give origin to symptoms of lead intoxication la the adult, is the sesse for the child. In many years of experience, we have never seen a case of lead poisoning in the. child, at the onset of illness, in which there was less than 0.08 sg. C3 0 atcrograms) of lead per 100 grass of whole blood. This is the threshold for industrial lead poisoning in the adult. It is possible, of course and even likely, that the child absorbs lead ore rapidly than does the adult, under equivalent conditions, but this, if true, does not alter the relationships between toxicity and concentration within the tissues. Pro the examination of the results of the Joint air-sampling survey made by the Chicago Department of Air Pollution Control and Republic Steel Corporation,,over a period of ten days, it is evident that no hazard to human health is posed by the lead which is discharged into the atmosphere from the plant's No.I Qpen Hearth Stack. The concentration of lead in the plume of smoke and fume downwind from the plant averages 14 taicrograsis per cubic Meter of sir, at the paint where the plume reaches the level of the ground. The range of concentration observed is of about the order of magnitude that occurs in smoke or fume resulting from the combustion (or heating to high temperature) of materials which contain some lead as an incidental or extraneous material. Considering this fact, together with the inters!ttency of the flow of the plume (approximately 6 hours per day on certain days, dependent-upon the direction and intensity of the wind), it is evident that the potential exposure to load of persons who may work or reside in an area near the point at which the plume from the plant comes to earth is negligible. It is important to recognize the fact that the absorption of small quantities of lead.by human beings is a regular and normal occurrence. -3 The ingestion of lead in food and beverages Jjy the average Aneriean adult is of the order of 0,33 sag, per day, of which from S to 10 percent is absorbed under average conditions. Much of the lead in food and beverages is natural in origin, and additional minut quantities are added in processing foods and preparing the for consumption. The concentration of lead in the general ambient air of a number of American cities has been found to be of the average o r d e r of 1 to S raferograasa per cubic meter, dependent upon geographic and aeteorologic factors, coupled with a variety of sources of finely divided lead for dispersion into the air. The common sources of such lead are (a) the combustion of gasoline containing tetraethyllead, whereby inorganic compounds of lead are discharged from the tailpipes of automobiles} (b) the combustion of other fuels or waste materials such a coal, wood, vegetable or {certain) mineral products}(dthe effluent materials from industrial stacks, whether combustion products or a fussesi^jths dust from the surface of the earth dispersed by moving vehicles or air currents which pass over dry soils, highways and s t r e e t s . The combined quantities from these sources, as a rule, are small, and as indicated above, are generally of the order of a few micrograas per cubic meter. The quantities of lead inhaled and retained in the lungs of persons in the general population are small, and (aside from occupational exposure in the lead-using industries) are hygienically and physiologically insignificant, at the present time. Indeed, they are smaller than those associated with the consumption of food and beverages. -4 Tafeen all a all, the ktvm.ti.im presented by the . data obtained 1. the survey w m l to itrela, froa the aspect of lul in tiw* atsaosphere, is not attendee by any hasard .to buaam itCalth Late-: aprii 24 A982 The Kettering Laboratory Ji'jT 0018644 Materials Submitted* -aeqpireftt Samples of airborae particulate matter collected on ralllipore filter media. April 11 and 13# 1#St by Department of Air Pollution Control, City of Chicago, 380 Mar* fiarle Street* Chicago 10, lilinola for Republic steel Corporation, ll6tn Street end Burley Avenue, Chicago IT.* Illinois Concentration of lead . . Analysis ....fnfter.. 62A-2399 62A-2A00 62-2%46 62-2t47 Republic Steel ... ...Maber.... 53 Blank 58 69 oeSB -- miiigj^La-lga>-n-9.a By^Dithlg^e By Speetrogrcphic .JfcBG&p... 5.S80 5,750 0.11 0*115 0,975 0*9^0 0*730 0,6%o proa The Kettering laboratory in the Department of . Preventive Medicine and Induetrial Health, College of Medicine, university of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio signad* m tor, Division of trial Hygiene Technology 0018845 Material Submitteds . Required? 'Sevan samples o f p o t ^ e i ^ - a a t e r M ' April 23# I960'by m * H if Ferguson, Assistant Director of industrial delations, Bspublie Steel Corporation, Cleveland 1* Otilo '- Per cent lead ' . Analysis `- jumper 62A-26TT 62A-26T8 52A-2S79 62-S680 62A-2681 62A-2682 62A*2633 Results Poiider Sample Humber 1 2 3 4 5 6 T Per Cent SDtctgdgraph 0*020 0*040 0 .0 60 0,440 0*900 0.110 t 0.220 ......_t. _ ,, ......... Dlthisone 0,017 0.033 0.055 0.4?4 O.950 0.125 0.238 Pro The K e tte rin g la b o ra to ry i n th e Department o f Preventive Medicine and In d u s tria l Health," College o f Medicine, u n iv e r s ity o f -C incinnati, C in c in n a ti, Ohio Signed TVcm m Dirwbtor, D ivision of In d u s tria l Hygiene Technology D atet. A pril 30. 1962 HE 0018646 Materialt Submitted! Required* Samples of air-borne particulate matter collected on millipore filter media. April 3, 1962 by w. E. Sebesfca, Industrial Hygienist, , Republic steel Corporation, 116th street, and Burley Avenue, Chicago IT, Illinois Concentration of lead Analysis Number 62A-2187 62A-2188 62A-2189 62A-2190 62A-2191 62A-2192 Republic Steel Number 92XA 92TB 92XC 92YD 92TF BL Control Results fteerograias of Lead in Sample By Dithizone Procedure By Spectrographic Procedure <0;5 2.9 <0.5 0.6 0.8 2,0 0,6 0.8 l A 2.0 0.0 - Notes Forty per cent of each sample was used for the analysis by the dithlzon method; The sensitivity of this method is approximately 0,3 micrograms per sample; .Sixty per cent of the sample was used for the spectrographic analysis. All of the lead was con centrated into a volume of 1 ml; The sensitivity of detection is 0,02 mierograms/ml* All concentrations were at levels where the accuracy of analysis by spectrochemical procedures varies from + 20$ to * 100$. Prom The Kettering Laboratory in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Industrial Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio Datei April 6, 1962 Approved* 1 Robert A, Kehoe, M.D, Director ' (: f s. r-, * '. ' -V' Vi * k' ' 7 , ^ J ^ - ' Materials Submitted, s Required* Samples of .air-borne partleuist matter collected on millipore filter media* April 6, 1962 by Department of Air Pollution Control, City of Chicago, 320 North Clark Street, Chicago 10, Illinois for Republic Steel Corporation, 116th Street and Burley Avenue, Chicago 1?, Illinois Concentration f lead . Analysis Number 62A-2243 62A-2244 62A-2245 62A-2248 62A-2249 62A-2250 62A-2251 62A-2252 62A-2253 Republic Steel Humber 9*HFC 94YB 9 HTA 937A 93TB 9JfC gym 93m 93TP Results MicroKrams of Lead in Sample By Dlthlzone procedure By speetrographio Procedure <0 .5 <0.5 4.65 3.8 <0.5 1.1 <0.5 1.1 0*7 0;8 0.7 1.4 0.5 <0.5 1.0 1.1 <0i5 (0.5 Notes Forty per cent of each sample was used for the analysis by the difchlsohe method* The sensitivity of this method is approximately 0;3 micrograras per sample; Sixty per cent of the sample was used for the speetrographio analysis* All of the lead was con centrated into a volume of 1 ml; The sensitivity of detection is 0*02 mierograms/ml All concentrations were at levels where the accuracy of analysis by spectrochemical procedures varies from 20fa to 100^. From The Kettering Laboratory in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Industrial Health, College of Medicine, university of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio : Date 8 April 12. 1962 Signed t /; Harold Imbus, MD. Material Staples of alp-bom particulate,zaattez* collected on asas y w <y IIII O O O O 00 ** H H <ri r4 O m m m ts\ ja # .# * . Nv" o X7 a o o .o. \/ IM U GN O & Ch HR OI N 01 I II .< < < CM W CM \9 y> x\ r H<\ HKl\ W RI ` IO O o CM H I S Kfc 0018649 Materials Subnltted* Heqalrad; ssaiplee off sir-born psrfeleulat ostte? colietei on a llu p o ** f llte r sed ia. Aprii 11, 1062 by Peparfcraent off Air Pollufcion control, . City off Chicago, '320'aortiti Clarfe Street* ctoioago 10, Illinois -iter segabile Steel, corporation, XX6th Street ani Burle? Anemie, ehioag 1?, Illinois > co n o en tro tlo n off le a d ' Resulta Anaiysis ilusiber. 6 2 1-2 3 9 5 621*259% 621-2595 ' 621-2596 621-2297 621-2398 Reputile Steel, = ... lupoher ,..... 99 9sm 99C 99SF 99350. . By itbigone..Presedu^ 6 .8 0.5 ' 10*0 0.8 T.5 0.5 By speetrographle. Procedure 5*0 0.9 7*9 0.8 6.5' 0.8 Prosi The Ketterlng xaboraiery in th Department off preventiva-Sfottei and industriai Health, college off ftaleina* U n iv e rsity off Cincinnati, c in o lr m a ti, ohi Patos Aprii 13 1968 Sigimi t M CheUk /Dirootor, Divieiort off fXpdustriaX i g i e n e Taehnoiogy 0018650 Material* Submitted* acquired: Samples of alr~bom@ particulate matter collected in millipore filter meis. April 12 1 9 6 2 by Department of Air pollution control. City of Chicago* 3 2 0 north eiasfe street* Chicago 10, Illinois, for saputile Steel Coloration, 116th street and ^ i P i a f ;:Aeme,.'Cliie:ase 17 Illinois c n e e a t r a t i o n o f lessi Analysis flamber 62-2&01 62A-2402 S2A-2403 62,4-240% 62A2405 62A-2405 Bepublic Steel lirtiF loom 10030 100TC 100E loots' low SiMiI M -.. M j ? m i . of Dead.;,M.smeiks._____ By Dithigone By Speetrographle Procedure Procedure 0,85 1.1 0.2 1.0 1.6 0.9 6.5 0.2 5*5 0.9 10.5 ' . 3.8 From The Kettering laboratory in the Department of Preventive V i c i n e arid industrial Health College of Medieine, university of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio Dates April 16f 1962 0018651 Signed* * tm l te Director Division of Industrial Hygiene Technology storiai* . Submitted* Required* Samples of sir-born parfcieiaatematter collected m sil.i3.por filter sedia* April 16, if62 by Department of Air Pollution confeso* City of Chicago, 398 Berth m street, Chicago 1C Illinois, for Republic Steel Corporation, 116th s t m t 0 m m * Chicago 1?, Illinois Cososttsiios,,#f 2ea$ . Analysis number 62A-2469 62A-24TO 62A-24T1 62A-24T2 621-2473 62A-2474 m wk$m . Hepublio Steel Bumber 103f 10398 103TC 1O30P 103*8lozm By Blthiaone .PmcMureL. 0.3 179 1*0 2.7 0.2 2.3 By spectrographic .. froccdnre___ 0*4 16*7 13 3.1 1*0 ' 2 .. From The Bettering laboratory in tbs Department of preventivo Medicine and Industrial Health, college of Medicine, University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Date aoril 19* 1965 Signed*, 18k tor# Division of trial Hygiene Technology K* 0018652 Material* Submltieii aeoulre#! Staples of alr-bon partlculat saatter eoilectedl on sillipor f u t a ? sedia. ' Aprii 13, 1962 hy Department o* Ai? Pollution Control# City of Chicago, 320 Korth Clark Street, chiago 10, Illinois for Hepublie Steel corporate, ll6tft Street A M r Chieggo 1?, Illinois eoneentrabiom of' lsa&' . ' Anaiysls Plustber 62A-2W1 62A-24%2 62A-24%3 2A*2W o 2A-2^58 62A-2^59 6 2 A-2 $ 6 0 Hepublie Steel Ifttssbr 101TB OlfB 1G1YA 101YC 102TA 10 2 0 c.. Blank Hesmlta - ___ By Bithlson ....froeMnre...... 10.0 1.7 2.2 0*7 2.7 0.0 0.0 . By Spectrographie Procedure 10.3 1.8 i.% 0.8 1.9 0.0 0.0 Fresa th Katterlng Laboratori in th Departsaent of preventive Medicine and Industriai Health, College of Hedleln#, University of Cincinnati, Ulneinnati ohio Datet Aprii 18, 1962 Signis lolak tor, Divisin of trial liygien Technology HE' 0018653