Document GmEzYz40L76g3XjxO6j9kRanm

February 1, 1p6 f Mr. dii 1An'v-i o Po i1it z e r The Set. JOl of .-.'iUlwX-i Depart.'.ont ."acato'[~y fhe uni Clime 1 .v.e.r,s1 it .! y * of Nori h Or Gil _CXI aro It.a li f na ' Dear Mr . Po H i tser : I am not sur e thet I know how t 0 --,nsver une cuescion raised in y our le tt er of January 22nd, orino ipally for the reason that I have no proper basis for judging the degree of toxicological sophistication out of which the question arises. If, therefore, my reply seems to impute a consider able content of naivete in the question, I trust that you will recognize that I am not being patronizing, but only simple In my attempt to reply. - First let me say that modern gasolines (I u:?o the plural advisedly) are extremely complex In their composition, having \ variety ci additives (antiknock: compounds, anti- oxidative, e t c ., ) in their railorsi pat1 of l pir e Ore sen ?>o low CO c cent rat ions Tb0 ~1"moo r\&y"i fc?'J s. L11at Jov xDU s to xic Ln hit: ligh ;jOf;cent ra V m s`'"N5*S C1i w vie il uVooy T y are th etr hir-ir. hy -jns, of ,rh * - - rh - > v'y; lai bj AA: imb c:r s an i v a r let ie s ..8ny of tl-> .Cr ore O ,nt conerV 0 la i 1in 3 me hi.gh in a.r'oma tic y ir rear bons, an d th c se as a group are more toxic than the aliohatic hydron croon.:. All of them nave narcotic properties, being capable in suitable concentration of in-'uc ins; varying degrees of -.;iS J ri nutation, drunkenness, ^rows in c?~ r;;^ ^ 1 8 : th* y cay bo ."* tha u v ' ?r appropriate : on ;it ions Most jf sho^ C 0 i'i X t-S j short of '- ~ -.a a.XV death, are compie-:.-1/ revercible, but from ti.r.-- OX. fi`T-.Vy fa i r ly rare 1y , I ;c 1 1 '' w > z z pivi lae : rt ml : n -- y Z VI difficult to say just why t h i " is true, "mu : 't L~ even of ethyl alcohol. There is tnere fo>e, io . r to be mystified by the occur mence of ivre v : ..i : t a to the central nervous system in the ;aku of ne vc osis iV .i11CG 0113 4 2- - /" ) deeply enough and frequently enough by a variety leum hydrocarbons, than by the alcohols. ya are indeed mystified as to th ihanism, as I Jo not deny, bu I do not consider _that ve need think: of any new or highly specific "toxic agent". Do not misunderstand me as iepre i'ng our knowledge d..L~K.J.u,.4. the oetrol eum hyoroc arbons 4 There has been a dremend CUE hue.an cxperie r ce which 'las CO lu us aha V./ 0h '7 are not remarkab ly coxic . This expe rie nee rias not 'c on as prolonged It has be a en " 0;\r 3y.3 infs nse rrienc during e with son the past e ?- 3he for 4--, ye cicche ar^ D 1 *;V n Oilu y this peri \/Ci y [1vf ever , the mixture of by ro car bons w hie h hav ertere i 1*1oJ ;oir:elin s has varie.', cr S'a f"j in time an.. --\i.ace and it mus oe r-' that tie information - ve little iadsi - about the higher aromatic hydrocarbons. It has been a temptation, which has not ene resisted by many persons, some of whom snould know be tter, to credit the toxic effects exerted by gasoline so it 3 content of lead alkyls (1ah tetraethyl, tetram.ethyl, e t c .). This, of course, is a matter that has been worthy of investigation, and much investigation has been carried out. Thu re are good reasons for great skepticism concerning the cos sib le role of the*ee compounds in the situation which you de scribe. It may be that I have raised certain questions in your mind, instead of providing answers. If so, I should be glad t o he ar dr cm you further. The phenomena which you describe, are important. 'The "sniffing of gasoline" is not new, but line other addictions of this type it is a cistressing affair. 3 ineore ours F A X ;men ofce: A. M .D . It 01 1 7 t: