Document Lpe9gZDVNkM7VzD18E3x0rL53

5April , ISSO Mr. William E. McCormick,. 'Department of Industrial'Hygiene and Toxicology, The B. F. Goodrich Company, Akron, Ohio. ; Bear Mr. McCormick: ' . Please forgive my long delay in replying to your letter of February 22. I 've.been unable to do more than the most demanding things from, day to day, lately, and your* problem, .as you will see from tfhat I have to say, was not urgent. ' The handling of leaded gasoline, If tills Is (tone b y the orthodox, methods of dispensing employed generally in this country, is not attended by the occupational hazard of lead absorption. Vie have shown experimentally and by means of periodic study of filling station and garage personnel, as- veil as gasoline handlers at bulk plants and refineries, that measurable lead absorption does not occur. Eo special precautions, except the use of good equip ment and normal practice, and no special "examinations a r e required Hone of the dispensing companies have any special procedure in this relationship, and in fact, we have advised against the institution of any special procedure. If there were an hazard, ve would . prescribe for it, since it is our duty and obligation so to do. Ho case of lead poisoning has -ever been seen among these employees. If there are any special situations or conditions associated with the activities of your Company in this commercial field, I 'd like to talk with you about them at a mutually convenient time, but otherwise there is no problem. In fact, it was one of the purposes of our investigations fox* fifteen years to find out if a problem existed. If there had been any significant problem of this type in the ordinary procedures of dispensing, the use of this fuel would have been banned years ago, and by this time tetraethyl lead would have been a dead and largely forgotten commodity. Sincerely yours, BAK ef Dictated but not read. Robert A. Kehoe,' M. D." KS 0004200