Document KGM3d0zd7m9pGgqzzk7KEoear
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Dr* Keith Fairley 107 Collins Street Melbourne* Australia
Dear Dr* Fairleys
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2 have .Just re turned from ,Jfcrlp .of
Investigation into the manner.of safely Spreading the *V,
ooEuseroial activities of the Bthyl ExportCorpcretion
in the European countries* Until a
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business operafelons of the Corporation;,in"4ntrtklii&-
.
were handled through the London office* adaXlmattera
including medical supervision were in theory* at,least*
the responsibility of Mr* Sevan, fche.:lioi]don,eaamerolal^
representative. It now develops that it lvraore logical
to handle the entire matter through the Sew *ork office* ,
and liras ranch m I am personally and. profess 1 anally
responsible for all. medical natters related, to. the opera felons
of the Hew Xoric office* I have become interested In obtaining
as much Information as possible about the developments In
Australia* and in making contacts with Mr* Tegner* and with
yourself*
r,;:..:'
I have every.reason to believe that, there la nothing in the present situation In Australia which requires my immediate attention* On-. the ether" hand* lt-: aeras-to me quits comelv&bl that youandl mayproflfc mutually in soa degree from acqualntanoe with each other even through correspondence* It la certatn tlmt l can profit to the extent of at least knowing#iat questions. If any* are rising and just what Is holng done In this eoaneotlon In all parts of the world in which % have at least a nominal responsibility* Accordingly I should be very happy, if you wouXd ooMunicafc with me end -let me - . know just the manner In which your moguls being carried out at the present time* and especially if there are any questions which have arisen In which I an be of any assistance to you* X shall be very glad to acquaint you with our general program both In this country and abroad In providing for entire safety-for workmen engaged in mixing Hthyi Fluid with gasoline* and X should be glad also to give you available Information as to the eteps which m are carrying out in this laboratory in following questions of public safety which re Involved In the distribution of Xead*containing gasolines*
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p". : i ;r ''r`vw;vf:i
like bo saake inquiry* I shall not give the exmat quotation -
but I noted that Dr* Dedham stated that his department was
concerned in a measure, frith - cheeking the safety of
'
employed In the mixing operations* Bis words mere to the ^
effect that although no eases of lead poisoning had developed
among these workmen* there were evidences that some degree ;
of lead absorption was occurring* X am not quite certain
as to what evidences of lead absorption he may have been
referring to* X assume that he probably meant that some of
the men so engaged were showing basophilic stippling In
their blood* tie have been following a representative group
of these men in the United States over a period of years
since 1926* and in addition to blood examinations on all
men* we have followed the lead excretion of a representative
group* The results (f our analytical examinations Indicate
beyond any reasonable doubt that the lead absorption of
these men is Insignificant* How* If the equipment used
for mixing in Australia Is equaled in excellence with that .
used in America* and if the regulations for the promotion
of safety In Australia are adequate* there should be no
more hasard in this occupation other than there is here*
I must* therefore* question the meaning of Dr* Badhaia1 a
remarks in his report* and I wish to know as much as X can
without making a trip to Australia at the present about the
manner in wnich the whole program is being handled there#
I shall enter into correspondence with Mr* Tegner to obtain
the facts and details as to the equipment and its handling*
but I will be very much pleased If you would let me have the
results of your experience and if you will give me your
opinions nob only on the safety of the present activities*
but of anybning which in your opinion might improve conditions
granting that there is any need for Improvement*
I am particularly anxious to keep in touch with all of the medical men who are concerned with this problem not only because It Is my responsibility to do so# but also because 1 want to make sure that the experience which we have had and the facts which we have been able bo develop by a rather extensive experimental program are made generally available and useful#
Cordially yours#
RAKsXS
Robert A* Kekoe* M.D*
HE 00.1 3440
