Document Ed6368jj0Gow1bwnmEyJGO6an

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES ARMY, ALASKA APO 9 4 9 , S e a t t l e , W a s h i n g t o n Office of the Surgeon 9 June 1959 John J Phair, 1 . College of Medicine Eden and Bethesda Cincinnati 19, Ohio Bear doctor .Phair: The United States Army, Alaska operates a petroleun pipeline that transports diesel oil, jet fuel, motor gasoline and aviation gasoline iron Haines, Alaska to Fairbanks. Alaska, a distance of 626 miles. Hie system has five tank farms, five pumping stations and two take-off stations. The storage tanks have to be cleaned periodically, and since the gasolines are leaded the workers who clean the tanks are exposed to the hazard of tetraethyl lead poisoning. Until recently there has been little or no consideration of this hazard from a safety or preventive medicine viewpoint. Workers have (according to the foremen) used rubber boots, rubber gloves, cover alls and forced air respirators while working in the banks, but there is no actual knowledge of the hazards involved. It is therefore my desire to prepare an information pamphlet for use by workers, foremen and physicians who may be required to treat possible tetraethyl lead poisoning cases. I recall that a considerable amount of time was devoted to tetra ethyl lead poisoning at the course on occupational medicine that I at tended at the Taft Sanitary Engineering Center in February 1956, I find, however, that my memory isn*t dependable enough to write any fact ual material and the libraries in the Alaska area are so limited in their scope that source material is not available. I should like to impose upon you, or someone at the Taft Sanitary Engineering Center, to the extent of asking for some information on tetra ethyl lead poisoning. Some of the specific information I desire is: 1. The extent of danger of tetraethyl lead poisoning to a person working on a pipeline and having only casual exposure to leaded gasoline. 2. The extent of danger of tetraethyl lead poisoning to a person who is required to enter a storage tank for the purpose of cleaning sludge out of it. 9 June 199? of protective clothing and equipment recommended gasoline storage tanks. . Instruments that may be used to determine the amount of gasoline vapors remaining in a tank after it has been drained; washed down with water and forced draft ventilated. In other words, when is it safe for a worker to enter a tank? 5. Instruments^ if any. that may be used to determine the amount of (tetraethyl) lead dust in the air inside the tank. (After the tank has been drained and dried out a fine dust is present on the walls and any projections on the walls of the tank. Air currents cause this fine dust to circulate in the tank and settle on the workers.) 6. Signs and symptoms of tetraethyl lead poisoning, and methods of treatment. 7. Any other material that may assist me in preparing an inform ation pamphlet on the subject, I realize that I am asking for information that could cover a large field. If there is no readily available material, please do not hesitate to tell me so. I f , on the other hand, you do have some material that you can send to me I will appreciate it very much. Sincerely yours, I I I I DONALD S Ili'SRS ' Lt Colonel, AC Preventive medicine Officer (FACPI-'i) II