Document 9NXVEBGab1rKo2DjMro2X8v6

/ S t o 0 : i & Gm visssre;*o & G's l i s q s o t j l WBSSES&SftO 225 BUSH STREET * SAN FRANCISCO 20 CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURING DEPARTMENT N. T. BOGART. JR. 6CNCNAU MANAGER W. H. HALES P. N. JOHNSON MIUTANT GENERAI MANAGERS October 2.9, 1961 Mr. John F. Koehnle Ethyl Corporation 235 Montgomery*Street San Francisco, California ... .- ' '' : Dear'Mr. Koehnle: ' .You recently asked for our suggestions on what the lead additive industry should he doing regarding the llest Coast smog situation, particularly in the light of the October 10 hearing held by the Assembly Subcommittee on Air Pollution and Badiation Protection. You indicated these suggestions might be considered at an Octo ber 2b meeting in Detroit, at which future steps will be considered. Here are our suggestions: ` Health Aspects of Lead 1. He suggest you review the transcript of the October 10 hear ing and decide what technical facts, if any, regarding the effects of lead on health were not clearly presented or not mentioned under the pressure of questioning. Consider present ing these facts to the Committee. For example, we understand Dr. Kehoe said that Los Angeles air contains two to six times the lead found in the air in other cities; yet the blood lead level is the same in residents of all cities. This resulted in confusion in the minds of the Committee, and should be cleared up, at least with the Committee consultant. f 2. As you know, Dr. Goldsmith of the State.'Health Department stresses that particle size of air borne lead is an important factor in the.amount of lead absorbed by the body. Particle size will probably be included in the air standards for lead which the State Board of Health will adopt in the future. It is important, therefore, that the particle size distribution of lead in the atmosphere at street level be known to assure that the lead standards have a scientific basis. Despite the fact that, the State Health Department is currently conducting . research on particle size of lead in the air, we feel that an ' tfg 0004993 ' 0. ^7X09 / Mr. John F. Koehnle Ethyl Corporation -2- October 19, 19-1' independent study should be conducted, particularly in vie'.-.' of the fact-that advances in instrumentation will permit a better .analysis of particle size distribution in the sub-micron range. This project could well be part of a larger research project which is being considered in various quarters to determine par ticle size of all air pollutants. The Air Pollution Subcommittee of the Medical Advisory Committee of the A.P.I. is supposed no have some type of recommendation for air pollution researca no be presented at the coming A.P.I. session in Chicago. Your Mr. hes selberg is a member of the Air and Mater Conservation Committee, which will hear from this Medical Advisory Committee at this meet ing. On the other hand, the results of any A.P.I. project along this line may not be available by the time the Health Department _ needs the factual information upon which to recommend standards. Effect of Lead on After Burner Catalyst Life Of course, it is obvious that if a catalyst could be developed that would not be affected by lead, the threatened loss of business by the lead additive industry would be eliminated. As you know, Mr. Griswold has stated to the Board of Supervisors in Los Angeles that lead addi- ' tives in gasoline shorten catalyst life. I n "reading his September 19 report, we find on Page 11 that the basis for his statement is "seme estimates" on catalyst life. So far as we know, there is no good data that has been published on this subject and we doubt that catalyst manufacturers have conducted the type of definitive study necessary to get real answers in this area, that is needed is some real facta. Several alternatives are apparent. 1. Contact Mr. Griswold and ask him to supply a copy of the data upon which he based his statement. 2. The lead additive industry could contact the same people Griswold did in his visit in the Bast and upon whose information he appar- .ently based his statement regarding the effect of lead on catalyst life. They could endeavor to find out' more detail about, reduction of catalyst life, such as any information on the effect of various lead levels in gasoline. At the same time they could e:<plore wish catalyst manufacturers the problem of obtaining samples of their catalyst for use in a research program. Considering the complex ity of the catalyst picture in regards to patents and secrecy agreements, this may prove to be an undertaking of some magnitude. 3. The lead additiVe industry could test its own catalysts to deter mine the effect of various lead levels on life. This could be a program conducted without the knowledge of others and could pro vide valuable information on proper test procedures and variables that need control.' 0004994 Mr. John F. Kcehnle -3- October 19, 1951 Ethyl Corporation if. dhe lead additive industry could offer to cooperate with the Los Angeles APCD and other interested parties in conducting joint tests. It nay be that the best-path to initiate such a project would be through the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control 2oara who, in our opinion, should have jurisdiction over this natter of catalyst life, not Griswold. Mr. Griswold, however, would get into the picture because his laboratory has a contract with this Board to do testing of exhaust devices. Deciding which alternatives should be used and when they should be im plemented is obviously important. We suggest that the lead additive industry begin conducting tests on its own, as suggested in Alterna tive 3. Additionally, the lead additive industry should be prepared, when the timing is appropriate, to urge a joint project on this - matter. Alternative 1 might cause Mr. Griswold to take some arbitrary action. Very truly yours, } ^ 0004995