Document JxBn3oj5xzg0K33v89gO7Y2

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER School of Medicine 550 FIRST AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10016 AREA 212 679-3200 CABLE ADDRESS: NYUMEDIC . Department of Medicine May 28, 1969 Mr. Sam Convery National Lead Company New York, New York Dear Mr. Convery: Enclosed please find a rough draft of the minutes of the meeting on May 26th for your comments and corrections. Thank you for your interest Sincerely yours. JNB/mcc Enclosure Jod'l N. Buxbaum, M.D N11980 Meeting held at the Rockefeller University, Hey 26, 136-3, 10:00, a.m. Sponsored by the Buildings Research Advisory Board of the National.Academy, of - Sciences. ~ The meeting opened with a discussion of childhood lead poisoning which covered the following points: The disease occurs in poor children, ages 1-5 yr living In poorly maintained housing* They may come to the hospital ill with anemia, cramps, kidney trouble or convulsions. A considerable number of these children develop permanent brain damage. Another group which .is excessively e^po to lead may be discovered by. the use of various screening tests; the degree of nervous system damage in these children Is unknown. The children (30-55%) be come intoxicated because of the ingestion of lead containing plaster and paint which is readily accessible or. the walls, doors and window si 11s of their apart ments* There is little lead present in new pa i r or or. toys, however, much lead paint Is used outdoors in New York City and the question of outdoor exposure Is ' . ' ;. . sti11 open. . ' V. , / ' , Children found to be poisoned must be hospitalized for de-leading with chelating agents, a procedure which is not totally benign. .In addition, they cannot- be returned to thei r former environments unless the home is- - de-leaded, .' '' - There are two questions which are still not concretely resolved: 1). What.are effects of long term subcllnical exposure? 0000-NLI-000020792 a -2 - 2) is there a preferred topographic site from which children ingest the rrcet lead? ' ^ New York figures based on 680 cases: 15% + samples woodwork . 23% + samples plaster These figures were discussed as to why is yield of positives so low? a) sampling error - maybe b) methodologic - method checks out okay c) samples taken from places previously rep I astered . d) plaster surface ftrst papered then painted over, hence, no old paint used, e) lead pipes? Only 2.5% of water samples tested have high lead content. ' . ' .. . ' ' . ' ' .' . / . - f) does window putty contain a great deal of lead? it was suggested that a systems analysis z?crcCsL be usee and the follow!n IQ scheme was offered: ' 1) detection - 2} alteration of active substance as--&4-ts. m\ 3) removal of substance k) covering substance a) material . b) adhesive 1} Detection - Epidemiology suggests that sit apartments .of certain type, under certain conditions manifest the hazard. OQOO-NLI-OO0O2O793 -3Present methods of detection - 3 sa..;p 1 es/rsf^^. - by senitaristiwith analysis by chemical or atomic absorption. inadequate - a) insufficient samples b) insufficient manpower c) too slow Other methods for analysis, i.e. flame photo^fr present same sampling p robIems. . _ s. *r. \cu^ * "- The newest development is a lead detector.- CO . '. source J-r- , u-em*feer at wail _ ' e*4>*s>*JL r Pa. O'Wi i*--fi t^.ri-4asa4jsi of 7k x-rays read, i t prfefca--ap. a -layer, of 5% lead paint under 15 coats^ non-lead with a 35 second response time. . 'A 'W .. Questions were raised about scatter and the absorption of the x-rays by ether ' : /s. * . ' v^Ut'L materials e&jsg" l.ead-paint especially barium sulfate a major component of Lithopcne paints (used from 1920-1950). One of the participants-offered the investigators a supply of Lithopone type paint to perform studies on this point. It was noted . that the city hopes to start field trials of the Instrument in July. It was suggested that Western Nuclear Research, a part of the State Uni vers i-ty of New York, m ight be able to furnish further techq-ical aid.*-^?0nce detection feasible what steps can. be taken? 0000-NLI-000020794 I i ft 'l x^ i. Behavioral - a) Label the area so that parents may' be aware.of attempt to keep children from it* The psychosocial difficulties involved in this type of approach were discussed briefly. b) Creation of lead free "play rooms1*' in saffected building. Felt to be a good suggestion but not adequate to meet total problem. wW - I!. Envi roneSital Change - a) Application of distasteful substance to area, particularly highly pe'rmesble oi 1 -bsse$. spray - little., known - must be non toxic - little further discussion - remains area for further investigation. 1 b) Overcoat of anions which ss combine lead to become insoluble at physdologic conditions so ingestion would not be followed by absorption. Salts suggested were |ortes end sulfates ."both discussed since one is too `. .' ' {. toxic the latter too soluble. c) Actual covering of surfaces by inert substance which would Isolate wall, Features to be considered in any material: 1) strong - i.e* hard to punctuate 2) proof 3) fire resistant in terms of'combustibi1rty and vclstfi Hty as toxic vapor 4) ..would not involve strain on exiptrfng strcuture of building. 5) optimal cost a) installation including labor and materials OOOO-NLI-000020795 b) maintenance cost , . '/ Approaches covered several areas: S t v.-as re]t that, tno maceria:i available are adequate to do the job* The major questions being which_cr.es, the cost and the use cf different techniques for flat and curved surfaces. In dealing with'flat surfaces the following suggested: I. Films - a) Gyps^um board - 5|`/square foot materials - expensive sophist!cated installation. . b) -Wall cover materials (fiber glass .010 - .015" thick (Owens-Coming or Johns Kansville for Sherwin Williens) loose paint and plaster must be removed prior to application, soma patching may be necessary, Supplled in AO" w:de shee adhesive is applied with a roller over the sheets. Thl s -costs IOq/se. foot for materials. With' two coats of pain it has lasted very well for at leest 1C years Total cost A3d/sc,. foot. c) Paper - easily applied - car. be made strong, fire retarding with color - can be applied on unsound wall - in horizontal fashion - cost about lq/sq, foot. ' . . \. -. U.S. Plywood has used paper adherent to wood theftcovered'with sifigle coat of paint iu outdoors for 30-^0 years in good results. People to contact: St. Regi^, Union ET-Camp., Kimberly-Clark, Crown - ZPHer bac^. C. ' ' -. d) Vinyl coat sheeting - complete with industrial adhesive fc r app!tca n. Has very low maintenance can be tailored to order, leas t combustible of pi a. *- c 0000-NLI-000020796 "G- but does give off some HC1 in fire - material cost 4-5d/sq foot'In total cost '' ' 'J at 10q/ sq. foot including adhesive (not.labor) Only possible disadvantage - 1) , I fb.VaJi ,. plasTititCf"-may v*^>vrv' result that surrsce fcEXxex becomes tacky; /.} at iow - temperature these become battle. ' ' it. was decided neither of these was a significant problem,, Rigid vinyl board is available but sheeting seemed to be preferable'to ` all participants largely because of labor factors* Actual cost of these materials will be provided by the representative of Armstrong and It was further suggested that other companies to contadt were Union Carbide, Diamond Alkali, Freestone, R.F. Goodrich, Grace Chemical, Bordens, ii. Liquids - General problems surrounding liquids include the following: a) are coats strong enough - i,,g, vinyl paints are r.ot as strong as vinyl films b) thickness control c) heavier films contribute to adhesive problems d) Need for some wall preparations - sanding, , cleaning, etc. Nonetheless * the following paint type compounds were suggested: wr 1) Ethane base paint .- 2) Pigmented masonry conditioner - excellent if flaking' scaling paint removed - , ' ' . * j. . - ' 't can contain zinc cxide to prevent mildew - Has chinawood oil or tongue oil base ' which really permeates - some questions were raised over strength of fin$h in face of aggressive child. OOQO-NLI-OO0O2O797; Curved surfaces can be bandied with liquids described above* however, if sheeting Is used on flat surfaces some other kind of approach is necessary for sills, moldings, etc. (ff possible It is desirable to down to base wood. Others - ScT'S-fs-C wise the use of vinyl chloride spray Is suggested. This requires masking of ' . 4 ~. '' ' 1 surfaces not to be sprayed. There is some fire hazard during application but little or none afterwards. The filch formed is quite tough, but not as strong as the 'wall films, ft should be applied as spray, portable airless spray units which are self atomizing can be used. Aerosol cans are quite expensive* V/aI nscost log to .5* seems addquate no matter what method used. Other approaches and products may be available from the Society of Plastics Engineers, Union Carbide, National . .. Starch and Adhesives. * 1 . The cons eve?-*-* of the group was that a panel of methods must be available for use in the affected dwe] lings, in order to estabi ish-a sui table anramentarict*\ a demonstration project should be set up consisting of no less than 12 comparable apartments. These would be treated with a variety of methods (3-6) using both union and indi^^/v^ labor with time, materials, labor, cost analysis undertaken with at least a two.years study period.. i t was felt that the industries presented with this, kind of approach would be most happy to donate materials and some services. OOO'O-NLI-000020798 8- - Once effective practical methods of confection are demonstrated tney must be tested for their ability to prevent children from being excessively exposed. This is a somewhat more difficult study but can probably be worked cut oy a eng 5 naers multidisciplinary group including physicians; env'i ronmental social workers, housing experts and people from the involved industries and labor groups - perhaps under the auspices of ri.U.D, The question of what methods can be used to motivate Industry 'to develop solutions ' - .> * '' ' ' '` .. / . for these problems was discussed. The incentive of s guaranteed market could be offered. . Programs could be proposed and which offeree landlords' cr tenants financial reewords and professional aid for attempts at rehab?11 tat ion. Low Interest loans should be available for this kind of r-hsbi1iration, The attitudes of the courts which-.as lows land'.ores to violate housing cock little EXtkra: penalty should be altered. 0G0Q-NLI-OG0Q2G799