Document 91raxXLzxpN0OVR8yyxk82qEe

Copy - June 13, 1957 Juno 1957 .n s . C.aoIxli2a1n*1, Colorado Dear M m . Mcblvain: four letter of May 20, addressed to Ethyl Corporation, das come to ne, as Medical Director, for reply. he handlin' ; of gasoline containing tetraethyl lead at filling sta/ions, hulk stations and refineries has never caused any cases of lead ^oisoniug in the Uni tod States during b:ie entire period of its use. There v;ore cases of poisoning among men enga ;ed in the n&nux'acture of totraotnyl lead during the early period of the develop" .rent of ..anui'ac taring processes, and there was a lino m e n such oases occurred in connection v/nth the cleaning ana repairing of large gasoline storage tanks, (in which the type of exposure is totally different). It is these cases that have been responsible for the idea, which still exists in some parts of the country, that the ordinary handling of gasoline Is dangerous from the aspect of Its lead content. The truth of the mat ter is that this problem was investigated very extensively In the early cays of the use of leaded .gasoline, and It was shovm that -o such danger existed under ordinary circumstances. The reason bach of tais safety is haat the lead content of one gasoline is so low that, (1) chore Is no measurable absorption of lead durlny contact of the gasoline with the shin, and (2) tiie vapor given off from gasoline 1.;. open containers contains only negligible amounts of lead. It is for nese reasons that loaded .viaollne could be marketed, for if the x'acts sad Peon other'.vise, this typo of gasoline could never have been vised. I an cult sure, therefore, that hr was not poisoned by tetraethyl lead and that olio physicians as she heterar.s * hospital wore correct in their opinion. It is of some importance in this connection, to know that the absorption of load In tnis form docs not damage trie peripheral nerves so as to produce a neuritis. At least, we have never seen a case of neuritis oven in the cases buat nave been known to bo due to the absorption of tetraethyl load in large quantities in the operations to vv.iich I referred previously. Tile report of the finding of load in your husbandfs urine "at the upper limits of normal'' tends la itself (dependent upon how and chore the analyses were carried out) to show that he had not absorbed N13178 (2)- June 6, 1957 abnormal quantities of lead as tetraethyl lead or otherwise, since if he had. absorbed dangerous quantities, one amount found in the urine should have been well above the normal U n i t s . Despite what I have said above, if your imsband1s physician would like to have further tests made of tao lead content of tae blood and urine, we would be glad to send aim containers with instructions for the collection of these samples and will report our results to aim, at no cost to you. As to the precautions which should be taken by persons who handle gasoline of any kind, regardlessof the presence or absence of tetraetnyl lead, it should be recognized that the oanger of injury lies in the gasoline itself. It Is irritating to the skin, and some persons cannot endure even brief minor types of contact. la general, people with healthy skin can have some contact without much trouble, but prolonged contact, especially contact of tixe skin with clothing or other fabrics that are saturated with gasoline, will usually cause severe burns and always causes some damage. It is wise, therefore, to avoid such contact as much as possible, and to wash the skin clean a.ad free of .gasoline as promptly as possible, whenever such contact occurs. The vapors of ygisoline also cause dissiness, nausea, drunkenness and, in sufficient concentration, lanconscious ness and death. hxposure to gasoline by Inhalation, therefore, should be attended by con siderable caution. People get somewhat accustomed to tnese vapors and often disregard them without suffering damage or illness, and illness short of fatality is usually brief In duration, but neverthe less there is always danger. Of course, as everyone .mov/3, tnere are always dangers from fire and explosion in the handling of gasoline. People tend to become careless about this also, ana so fires and explosions occur from t ime to time, and sovetimes lives are lost. I trust that this letter answers your questions, but if you wish to write further, do not hesitate to do so. Very truly yours, iiAKkef Hobert A. Kenoe, 1. D. 00.1 2 5 b i Juno 6, .rs. Hox a.17 Calhan, Oalhornia Dear Mra. McDlvain 'Jour latter of '.'ay 23, addressed to fithyl Corporation, has corne to me, as Medical Director, for x'epiy. The handling of gasoline containing tetraethyl lead at filling stations,, bulk stations and refineries has never caused any cases of lead poisoning/the United dtates during the entire period/ d its use. There were casas of poisoning among men engaged in the dnanuiacture of tetraethyl lead during the early period of the development of manufaciraring processes, and there a time '/"'hensuch cases occurred in connection with the cleaning and repairing of large gasoline storage tanks, (in which the type of exposure is totally different). Ttis thesecases that have been responsible for the idea, which still exists in some parts of the country, that the ordinary handling of gasoline is dangerous from the aspect of its lead content. 'The truth of the /natter is that this problem was investigated very extensively in the early days of the use of leaded gasoline, and it was shown that no such danger existed tinder ordinary circumstances. The reason back of this safety is that the lead content of the gasoline ia so low that, {'!} there is no measurable absorption of lead during; contact of the gasoline with the nkint and (Z) the vapor given off from gasoline in open containers contains only negligible amounts of lead. Xtin for these reasons that leaded gasoline could be marketed, for if the facta had been otherwise, this type of gasoline could never have been used. I am quite sure, therefore, that Mr. W^^vn\s not poisoned by tetraethyl lead and that the physicians at the Veterans' Hospital were correct in their opinion. It ia of some importanco.in this connection, to knowthat the absorp tion of lead in this form does not damage the peripheral nerves ao as to produce a neuritis. At least, we have never seen a case of neuritis oven in the cases that have been known to be due to the absorption of tetraethyl lead in large quantities in the operations to which I referred previously. The report of the finding of lead in your husband's urine "at the upper limits of normal" tends in itself (dependent upon how and whore the analyses were Mr E- (2) ~ June 6 i 95? carried out) to show that he had not absorbed abnormal quantities of lead as tetraethyl lead or otherwise, since if he had absorbed dangerous quantities, the amount found in the urine should have been %vell above the normal limits. Despite what Ihave said above, if your husband's physician would like to have further tests ~na.de of the lead content of the blood and urine, we would be glad to send hi.n containers with instructions for the collection of these samples and will report our results to him, at no cost to you. As to the precautions which should be taken by persons who handle gasoline of any kind, regardless of the presence or absence of tetraethyl lead, it should be recognized that the danger of in jury lies in the gasoline itself. It is irritating to the skin, and some persons cannot endure even brief minor types of contact. In general, people with healthy skin can have some contact without much trouble, but prolonged contact, especially contact of the akin with clothing or other fabrics that are saturated with gasoline, will usually cause severe burns and always causes some damage. It is wise, therefore, to avoid stick contact as much as possible, and to wash the *kin clean and free of gasoline as promptly as possible, whenever such contact occurs. The vapors of gasoline also cau.se dizziness, nausea, drunkenness and, in sufficient concentration, unconsciousness and death. Exposure to .gasoline by inhalation, therefore, should be attended by considerable caution. People get somewhat accustomed to these vapors and often disregard them without suffering damage or illness, and Illness short of fatality is usually brief in duration, but nevertheless there is always danger. Of course, as everyone knows, there are always dangers from fire and explosion in the handling of gasoline. People tend to become careless about this also, and so fires and explosions occur from time to time, and sometimes lives are lout. Itrust that this letter answers your questions, but if you wish to write further, do not hesitate to do so. Very truly youra, RAKef C.C.: Robert A. Kehoe, M. .0. Dr. L.. W. Sanders (Blind) Mr. A. F. Ryan Ethyl Corporation, Denver, Colorado (Blind) KB 00.12563 \\ g May 26, I9g7 Ethyl Gov?--oration Boston -uiIdling Denver, Golo. Dear Sir: I have been tolcl that you might be able to give me some information concerning lead poisoning.caused by in haling gasoline fumes and Mantling leaded gasoline. . Over two gears ago my husband was quite ill with neur itis which some of the Doctors that examined him thought night be caused by lead from gasoline, ho has been a Commission Agent for Continental Oil Co. for over nine years and has never been careful in the way he handled gasoline in' deliver ing the products, at the time he was ill one test was taken showing the urinary lead soncentration was at the upper limits of normal, however when he entered Veteran's Hospital in Denver they seemed to convince him he did not have lead poison ing although they did not take any further tests on him. In all tills time I have felt something lias affected his nerves and he has never had the energy or physical stamina he had beforo_ he was ill. ' Would y o u be able to send me information!about the effects of lead from gasoline, also what tests would have to be taken to determine if he might have chronic poisoning, also what percautions should be taken when .working around gasoline, I have been told so many differentjthings about it that I would like information from the Company which makes the lead. i ! Sincerely, N13178.01