Document Evb14GpVXpnj3qJdD2nrkQZyb

n s. w \ V !![; i. . S U uQJSDOr b , TO bo NEMORANDM 17ITN REFERENCE TO ALLEGED GA?.E CF FATAL LEAD gISNING CG FTHAG TED DRING TAWK C-LSAiirid (SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA) : OQ -Kmmary of l .D. tol(Dpbo:ne conversR- vn d Mr. Littlefield, Regrhonal ihanager, XJ> A contract had been let by the U.S large underground storage tank to the Ship Service Comp Amy of San Pedro, California, where the tank was located. Cleaning operations were carried on by a crow of seven men and had been undei* wav for about three weeks (approximately August 13 - 31). On Thjirsday or Friday (August 30 or 31), one of the workmen bccawe ill' Tilth severe Jtoir.ach upset and vomiting., lie was admitted the harbor GuiltId 'Hospital, San Pedro on Friday, August 31, 19.06, where no died verv .shortly after admission. Tho provisional diagnosis was Possible "Hydrocarbon Poisoning,. An autoosv was performed at the Countv -porrme. Presumably tissue specimens can be obtained for chewica' S.L3 X there is any question about the pathological diagnosis. However, an .article appeared in one of the Los Angeles newspapers on onday or4 'Tuesday (September 3 or k), stating that a workman had dfled .from lead poisoning contracted during the cloaning of a gasojll:ino storage tank in San Pedro. Y/hen I tallced with-Dr. Doty he was advised to examine the other tank cleaners, and to take the usual blood and urine spjpcisnens, as well as to obtain if possible suitable tissue specimen Grow the body of the deceased tank cleaner. Incidentally, the Insuranice carrier for the tank cleaning contractor expressed concern as t o whether lead poisoning actually was the csau oe o f death, ler it wight be present in the other members oof tb.c? tank cle a e ? as well. KB 0017342 o The cleaning operations .had been carried-.on under, the observotion. of a member of the safety group of the EthyT Regional Office. It was reported that ail precautions had been carried out, and that the workmen had been supplied with full safety equipment. There . iI was apparently no evidence of carelessness or other infractions of le safety regulations, i \ KX 0017343 j ;i1i