Document 7RY58bxwryOR5zK7XzvyR1pZR
November 2f>, 1947
MI-. Hassell Frank, Director, Safety and Personnel, ' 'The Enamelist Publishing. Company, 4150 East 56th Street-, Cleveland 5 , Ohio.
Dear M r . Irank:
I have your letter of Kovemoer 18 concerning information on the
general problem of lead absorption. I think it is fair to say that
the best and most recent comprehensive consideration of this problem,
as it appears in the En lish language, will be found in a report
issued bp the American ublic Health Association in lp4p- This is
a b u l let i n e n tr ca ed "Dec upational Lead Exposure and Lead Poisoning"
and X 3 a re port pre
1 bp the Committee on Lead 1 oisoning of the
Ind us tri a l H y g i e n e
.on cf the American Public Health Association,
o f v h i c h h a d t h e h' onor to be chairman. It can be obtained at a
CCS t
of
r?c;
i
cents
pe r cop y from
the
Office
of
the Association,
l"9o
Brc ad way , H ew York
19.
there
V3.th specific reference to the absorption of lead silicate,/is not
toe much in the way of new or useful information. It seems quite
clear, from theoretical considerations, that lead silicate is a
much less hazardous lead compound than many others. Indeed in some
instances Indus trial concerns have been advised to use a silicate
in preference eo other more soluble lead compounds. On the other
hand, I have no doubt that if industrial workmen vere exposed to
lead silicate distributed into the atmosphere in sufficiently finely
divided state and in sufficient dosage, cases of lead poisoning
would develop among them. Undoubtedly some absorption would take
place, and if the dosage were sufficient, such absorption could reach
dangerous proportions, if exposure occurred over a sufficient period
of time. It so happens that we have had no opportunity to measure
the extent of human lead absorption, under known conditions of
exposure to lead silicate. Consequently I-cannot give you any better
opinion than that expressed above* The experimental work required to
evaluate this particular compound, In relation to other lead com
pounds would be extensive and costly. So far as I know, it has not
been d o n e . Indeed, there ar-e very few experimental data or data
obtained from specific industries , that would enable us to compare
specific compounds with each other under the conditions of industrial
exposure. I dare say that we In this Laboratory have some of the
best data available anywhere on this subject. Nevertheless it would
be quite impossible to deal with this problem in any more than
general terms at present.
From the practical viewpoint the thing that Is of greatest importance
Mr. Russell Frank - (2 ) - November 25, 1947
in the ceramic industry is the use of lead compounds, and particularly lead silicate* in a form that is not so finely divided as to give rise to dusts that remain suspended in the air breathed by workmen. If the use of such dusty material.can be avoided, the control of the lead exposure is fairly readily achieved.
Very truly yours ,
l-AK e f
Robert A. K e h o e , M. D.
HE 0015689