Document KRj6xzL847GEqoMeDBN88NoR6

July 22, 1953 Dr. A. 2. 'MacCa'llum hetrolia, Ontario, Canada Dear Doctor MacCallujr.: . V.o are enclosing fo r y o u r information and records, the analytical results fo r lead on the samples of blood and urine obtained from Mr The results would Indicate that no lead had been absorbed by Mr. the time he was engaged in wo r k within au^asoHIra storage tank during the previous few days. Thank you very much for collecting those samples for us. * Sincerely yours, L'.VS:v r End. cc - Dr. H. A. Kehoo Lester W. Bander3 , n.D 0017300 Random comments on the tank cleaning as it was reported in the letter of Mr. Reni Barkl of June 2ltr, 1953 LIf the m a n who worked In this tank wore air-hose asks (and it Is not specifically stated whether or not 1they did, excepting on the last day or two of the tank cleaning as mentioned on page 3)* they should have been safe even in a very high concentration of lead in air. | ,. I The m e n t i o n of the 20 c.c. b l e n d immediately Isuggests . \ the question as to how this blend occurred and whether or not . _| there was any previous knowledge on the part of any cni in the Corporation of this blend and Its transportation, If no 'knowledge was had of this blend, the reason fori thi lacle of knowledge should be investigated. ' i i Since definite procedures have been established for the routine handl i n g of sludge, the question arises as t o v;n y individual judgment was u sed and a procedure which differed from the accepted usual procedure followed. The burnin procedure, it seems to me, only complicates the picture . ii requiring perhaps more handling and being very questionable In Its effectiveness. I f fthe T.E.L. was In water, it w ould h ave bee n at the bottom of the water and nothing ei feet Ive would have been accomplished by the burning of stove or fuel oil on the top of the water. The oil, rather obviciusly# v/ould simply have burned off, leaving the lead where it was originally and there would have been no effect In all p robability on that lead resting at the bottom of the r;4'tsr. '..lien the original report of M r . 1^Pe 33 was made to Mr. Lewis, it seems to me that Mr. Lewis was passing medical i! judgment as to whether or not the symptoms might have be en due *S 2 to load absorption* Th: s is. a r a t t e r that should: have been referred to the Medical Department at once for judgment. If there was reason to believe that high c one enterat ions of ;ad were in the air outside tne tank {obere as seme evidence of this aa stated In the letter because of the strong odor of lead on the outside), the use of canister^ masljs w ould be questionable even on the outside. It appears that both hr. Lewis and Mr. Dark! ere; using medical judgment and only In retrospect and after- the fact ref erred the question to the proper department. A l t h o u g h no specific Instructions have, seen is sued asking for the immediate reporting to tne liccici ;...ont >f tanks w h i c h have unusual histories or p r o v e d to have uirasual concentrations of lead, good 'augment muK-iit raye 3sted. such an immediate report. The situation suggoiui. tha t the Medical Department Issue instructions for the i-rt.ediate reporting of unusual oanks v/nen found. Lester V. Sanders, M.D. July 2, 1953 la/ 0017302