Document EqdRG56wNOo7eYaojZnbp7RzL

Jims 7, wm Captain E* L Bergquist, Station Hosptial, Air Corps Advanced Plying 'chool, Kelly Field,: Texas * Dear Captain Bergquistj I have your letter of* June 3rd and will endeavor `to answer your questions to the best of jay ability, 1* ETHYL riilTD contains tetradthyl lead and aa organic iialxd (In the avaition fluid the halid is tftyXensdihroisid, and the proportion of tetraethyl lead to othylsn^-ai-troaid is that theoretically required for complete combination to fora lead brtffldd), la the ocaabustioa* it is boliaved that the tetraethyl lead burns to load oxide and the halids to acid, these tssr then, ccaabining to farm, lead ha34d*, This material is largely volatil ized opt of the cylinder itself and is partially deposited In the exhaust system and partially blows out with the exhaust gases - 2e There is no evidence that there .is any material difference in th chemical reactions in th fuel between axttoasobila motors and air play motors# 3* Tetraethyl lead is oxtremsly easily oxidised and 1 do not believe that there Is ary possibility 'that uritnsrned tetraethyl lead con a arm out of th cylinders* 4* The experimental dote mina^iaa of the quantity of lead in exhaust gases ds^xiremely difficult since, at least* a part of .the load Is tton^very finely divided solid state which permits it to pass through most scrubbing systems. An. electrical precipitator of the Cottrell type would probably be most effective 1 am sending you, under separate cover, a report of the Bureau of Hines in which some work ms dons on '11118 problem and also a report of the British Investigating Committee in which th problem is discussed, Th consensus of opinion appears to bo that if exhaust gas is diluted to the point where poisoning from carbon monoxide does not occur, the lead concen tration is well below th limit believed to produce any physiological effects The problem; of the relation of tetraethyl lead to the publto health question has "been esmauatSrrely studied "by Dr- E* A* Kho of the College of l.!edlois!fi|i UniTersity of Cimiimati, and I "would suggest that you Tjrite to liisa if you have further speoifi questions* Very truly yours. Graham Edgar* Zfl Copy to Dr* Kehoe Kb 0035540