Document M1RKeM2O6BJVXD6dnLRkXYXy

DPe H, A. Y e n i Kom shian Am erican U n iv e rs ity S yria J Dr, H, A, Xenl Eostehian American University Beirut rl- Syria Dear Doctor Komahiant ' > l\ #g| sin uite some time ago X was Informed by the London office of Ethyl Export Corporation* that you had agreed tentatively to provide the necessary medical supervision for men employed in mixing Ethyl fluid with gasoline in your vicinity*' through an over-sight* X neglected to write you at onoe^ X hope thie has not occasioned any inconvenience to you in your work* It has been my practice to communicate with physicians who Under-* I ' ; ?'?' take the supervlsioh of this workandtogive them 'the benefit of the experience which we have had over" a period of years* &hd ale# to provide suohi infer* mation as Is available in published form. In the period of the past twelve or thirteen years during which gasoline containing'tetraethyl: lead has been distributed In ..'the. United /States* a. large number of men have been.'engaged at plants in which the fluid . is mixed-, with . gasoline. Our experience has shown that when these plants are built and' operated properly*.and when the workmen follow the re gulations provided* no danger of lead'poisoning exists* . As a matter of fact* ..there have been no cases of lead poisoning in this oQcupation wltbln Cur knowledge, and'we'"are quite confident, .that if the supervision is maintained*no difficulties will ooour,5 Xt is largely because ofthia that we have . attempted to obtain'.the services of . 'Competent and conscientious physioiana for' the supervislon of workmen v`C-; in these plants latsWX./ Xhe one .thing we fear mo st ia that the workmen will become careless after-.a'period Of: flit# during whieh no injury has occurred. XtMour expectation that, the medical men will bee tO lit .that the men are properly warned \ t- * * 1; and that they will keep On the alert in Carrying out the regulations, W also expect the medical men to see that the plants are kept in orderand for this res ' *V ? 1 the physicians should make it a point to inspect the plants at regular intervals and to see that everything .... is kept in an orderly state* m 00 ;34b3 . - -. . ** 2 " I am sending you herewith reprints covering a series of published articles and also a copy of the latest version of the regulations* A very considerable amount of investigation has been carried out in this field arid the results of these in* vestigations make quite clear* I believe* the source of danger* There , has been a tendency to confuse the actual dangers associated with the handling of Fluid with the purely hypothetical dangers arising from the handling of gasoline containing small quantities of tetraethyl lead* Certain articles* which I am sending you* deal with the problem of leaded gasoline. Our experience, as well as our experimental data* show quite clearly* I believe, that there are no Important dangers associated with the use and handling of gasoline containing tetra** ethyl lead In the commercially permissible concentrations, I do not believe you are likely to have any difficulties on this score although It often ocoura that some anxiety develops In a new area of distribution, I would appreciate your writing me from time to time* and especially so if difficulties of any kind occur* as I wish to keep In touch with all of the consultants engaged In this work in order that 1 may be sure that any difficulties that may occur are reported to me. Let me call your attention to one matter of considerable hygienic importance, if have prescribed certain regulations for the cleaning of storage tanks which have contained leaded gasoline. Y0u will note certain.special regulations directed toward this procedure In the book of regulations which I am sending you. It is quite noesaary that these regulations be carried out in detail, I think it would be wise if you would call the attention of the management of the plants under your supers vision to these regulationa and totbe dangers associated with failure to comply with these regulations. In the articles which I am sending you, you will also find a memorandum which I have prepared to express the general medical policies which should obtain in carrying out this work. Please accept my best wishes for the success of your work and my thanks for your willingness to accept this responsibility. Cordially yours, RAXiIS Robert Al Kehoe* M D HE 0013469