Document BRwKK4emGnwx4BYgJpQgvoXxE

WA3 1C, 16 I>r. .1. Gleaeoa d r e c t c r oZ IteeeaJrch Eu|*rts*>&t bysm O U Co&$auoy 1151 e s t F i f t h f t t r e e t A&tk'iv, C&liforttie Ltettr iKutitoz Olea: . a response to your request % t m gla to site a letter containing a brief f^'^axy of t i w iY<intigiioii e the potential bassard o le abaorpticn asscng your t&aiftsy,s caiployees i n &j5ociati*>n ith their handling; o your products. IHjYpoet? A ciUfc^tisai haw arisen a tv ttee fciiccsg vX the contact > tb* sHin of sen with a load-containing product designee tor us# a an aic t o iubricutii*. The lead compound i s contained in & fcxtsuintlcn oi filch tiw e*itntUl vhiclt i n & petrol! oil. T i i i u feradiation ie &&fec available in the f*r& of a concentrate, hich then is tv be added to a lubricating or hydraulic fluid in a proportion not to ate 2 percent >* volume, the hygienic question concerns prissariiy the safety oi oftuseu hose shin * hemis, etc. - t*old c o m into contact with the final lubricant esatainita# a ptrciiht of the or^uiafeioti, fro*. the aspect of the percutaneous absorption of the loan cofepourid, on the one head, ana fro that of cutaneous irritation on the other* Prveedurc. In ceosiderln& the# ratters. the ant oat stringent toot o the poteatiaiities of the c&te-rial for liara appeared certainty to fee that oi cetssrsiiaing the facts ropreaenteo in toe exjterieac. I a am.11 group- o m s k &o 2U4 fee* .ployed for varying prolong perioh of tin* in preparing and packaging the concentrated ioraulatloa for cistrlbuticn. ^xeortingly, the operations of the plant ere inspected, the natura of the ork engaged in by the sen u the extant of their dally contact with the product as obsurveh, ana a group representa*ive of the condition under study Ble eclccte for investigation. The individual on, thirteen in nusuber, tre eaaninod thoroughly by a pfeyeicien and reported on ally. Ssnaplea of the blood end urine of the nea eve obtained *iy the physician, end forward* to the ottering Laboratory for analysis, the findica ere asaenbled end examined irately. The results of the aralyeee for lead ere coopered individually end collectively tdtfc those obtained by he analyst of the blood and wine Dr. S. I. Gleason 2 June 10, 1960 of large numbers of normal Individuals ((persons with no occupational exposure to lead) and with corresponding numbers of persons employed by groups in lead-using and lead-handling operations. UfSUlt:-: 1. The employees under investigation were in a satisfactory state of good health and capability for their jobs. No evidence of irritation or damage to the skin of the men was found in either their clinical histories or their physical status. 2. The analytical findings in the blood and urine of the men, without exception, were such as to demonstrate clearly and un equivocally, that they had not absorbed significant quantities of lead in the course of their extensive occupational contact with the leadcontaining concentrate. The average concentration of lead in the blood cf the men (26 determinations, 2 from each man) were 0.03+ mg. per 100 grams, while that in the urine (13 determinations) was 0.03- mg. per liter. The highest concentration of lead in the blood was 0.045 mg. per 100 grams (average of 2 results) which is well within normal limits, and the- highest in the urine was 0.05 mg. per liter. Conclusion Tab significance of thek^ observations lies in (1) the failure cf any of these men to develop signs of cutaneous irritation in consequence of the daily and very frequent contact of their skin with the concentrate on the one hand; and (2) in their failure to absorb the lead compound through their skin under these same conditions. The conditions of exposure were sufficiently severe to justify the conclusion that there is no occupational hasard, with respect to potential lead absorption in association with the handling of this product, and that the potential hazard of dermatitis in connection with its handling is evidently no greater than that involved in the handling of a variety of commonly used petroleum oils. It is recognized that a full and more detailed report of the aetaiXs of this investigation would be required to satisfy the critique of other investigators or of professional hygienists. This in brief, however, is a fair statement of the facts that emerge from the full consideration of the methods and results. Yours sincerely, RAK:ss Robert A. Kehoe, H. !>., Director The Kettering Laboratory