Document B58MwrVy44ryz03qK5naGmRYk

/ November 2k, 194-5 Mr. Earle W. "Webb, Ethyl Corporation, Chrysler Building, Nev York City 1?. Dear Mr. Webb: I am very glad to give you my opinions on the general subject of cancer research in relation to the petroleum industry. Also I am expressing my reaction to the relationship of this general problem to the af'fairs of Ethyl Corporation, for what it may be worth to you. It has leng been known that certain bituminous products have rather- striking cancer-producing properties when applied to the skip frequently or regularly. Thus the tar cancer of the wool spinner, so well known, particularly in England. Other materials of highly complicated chemical structure associated with certain high boiling fractions of petroleum compounds have been"shown to be active in this regard. It appears that materials of this kind occur with considerable frequency in the products of catalytic cracking. Whether the variety and quantity of these is greater in connection with catalytic cracking than in the case of thermal cracking has not been definitely established, but this is a ques tion that requires an answer. In any case, there are a number of reasons for suspecting that some of the higher boiling petroleum products now on the market have more striking carcinogenic pro perties than the corresponding products of an earlier period. Considering the number of persons who may be involved in whatever hazard may exist, it seems highly desirable that this matter should be investigated thoroughly. Some of the technical people in the petroleum industry are concerned about this problem, and a number of the medical people as well. It is my opinion that once investi gation has been started it will have to be carried on rather extensively In order to answer the questions that present themselves. Skin cancer is, of course, only one aspect of the cancer problem, and not by any means the most important. Nevertheless a thorough investigation might well result in discoveries of very considerable importance in relation to the general problem. This Is a matter of considerable Importance to the entire community therefore, and is worthy of the best efforts of investigators. The petroleum industry can certainly justify extensive expenditures in this field of medical investigation. From the point of view of Ethyl Corporation the line of Interest is not so direct.' One reason for this Is that there is no present KE 0001146 Mr. Earle W. Webb - (2) - November 24, 19^5 suspicion attached to gasoline, insofar as carcinogenic properties are concerned. On the other hand, the interests of Ethyl Corpora tion are so obviously intermingled with those of the petroleum industry that it would not seem difficult to justify some reason able contribution in the furtherance of cancer research. The cause is a worthy one. It involves the entire community to a very con siderable degree. Therefore, as somewhat of an outsider, and certainly not as a special pleader for medical research, I can see such a contribution as a gesture of good will arid as a tangible recognition of Ethyl Corporation's interest in the ills as well as the advantages of the petroleum Industry. Sincerely yours, RAK ef Robert A. Kehoe, M. D. ^ 0001:47