Document DDE2vvODV4R3On85rO1aL3m4Q

July 17, 1967 Melvin R. Plancey, M.D., Chairman Environmental Health Committee American Petroleum Institute Employee St Public Relations Division 2S0 South Broad Street Philadelphia, Penna. 19101 Re: L-3 - Standard for Lead in the Ambient Air Project Dear Doctor Plancey: I have prepared a brief interim report on the status of our experimental work on the project designated above. I believe it will fulfill your needs and purposes for the purpose of your own reporting to the American Petroleum Institute. Perhaps a few further remarks are justified. 1 regret very much, that the general plan of the present experiment has had to be altered somewhat, by reason of the necessity of releasing one of the experimental subjects. Ota the other hand, without being a Polyana, l can see the possibility that this may not result too badly. I have been somewhat surprised to find that the second period of the exposure of these two subjects to air containing 20 micrograms of lead per cubic meter, at the rate of 30.5 hours per week, has not been sufficiently severe to induce an excretory response on the part of either subject. (2 fully expected that the first period would turn out negatively.) This probably means that we shall not be able to carry out a sufficient number of increases in the hours of exposure per week in order to yield a convincing series of points on the curve of response versus severity of exposure, at this level of concentration. If this turns out, in the next two months, to be the case, we should start a new experiment at a higher level, and in that case we shall have saved an appreciable bit of time in moving toward the completion of this project. This would mean that we could get another experiment (hopefully, the last of this type) under way early in 1963. This is not the proper time to find satisfaction in the negative quantity of the experimental results thus far, for the very next incremental increase in the exposure, which has now been embarked upon, my alter the outlook appreciably. I think, however, that one can begin to appreciate the likelihood which has been pooh-poohed by several relatively inexperienced investigators in the past, that the slight differences in the lead content of the air, which have been noted as between one city and another, or one part of a city and another, or a city and a rural area, are of little importance as compared with the regular absorption of lead which occurs in consequence of the ingestion of lead with food and beverages. I have suggested to Mr. Fowler of lead Industries Association that it might be advisable, at or near the end of 1967, to have a meeting of representatives of the sponsors of this project, to.examine the results available at that Melvin R. Plancey, M.D Page 2 July 17, 1967 time, and to consider the next step in the prosecution of this project. I shall be prepared, by that time, I feel sure, to recommend a further experiment in such detail as to justify a closely estimated budget. I enclose for your convenience, a copy of the last previous progress report, together with a much abbreviated general statement as to the results of further observations up to the present. Sincerely yours, Robert A. Kehoe, M.D. Professor Emeritus of Occupational Medicine ?*AK: wp H t 0 0.1 (l 3 ) 9 w IchfieldCompany Employee & Public Relations Division 260 South Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101 Telephone 215 735 2345 Melvin R. Plancey, M. D. Medical Director July 5, 1967 Robert A. Kehoe, M. D* University of Cincinnati Kettering Laboratory Eden and Bethesda Avenues Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 Dear Bob: It will be necessary for me to present a report to the American Petroleum Institute in August on all of our on going research projects* Our last one from you in April indicated that the volunteers were being exposed to the 21*0 level in our L-6 - Standard for Lead in the Ambient Air Project. I would appreciate an interim progress report from you regarding any changes which may have occurred at this level or at successive levels already completed or underway. In order that I may prepare my report, I should have your data preferably by August 1st but no later than August 15th. Sincerely yours, Melvin R. Plancey? M. D* Chairman Environmental Health Committee American Petroleum Institute a N13363.01 E 003/2910