Document MMxkVpyLBVJZwr0N2ZKVQpYaM
May 1$ 1940
Dr, M. 0. Boudry Waupaca elinio Waupaca, kiaconsin
Dear Doctor Boudry:
After going through a number
of hands, your letter of April
has come to my desk
and I hasten to make up for some of the delay that has
been occasioned by my pro-occupation with a number of
other duties. Before arriving at a conclusion on your
request for a sample of tetraethyl load, 1 .should like
to have some idea of -what you want to U3e it for, and
how you propose going about it. Tetraetnyi lead is a
very toxic material which is absorbed from the sub
cutaneous tissue and also directly through the akin.
A very great amount of toxicological work on experimental
animals "has been done, and a very wide experience with
various types of exposure has been had over a period
of years since 1925. Therefore it seems unlikely that
there are any very serious questions unanswered as to
its mode of behavior which could be answered by a few
clinical observations. Accordingly I have some con
siderable hope that the matters which you wish to in
vestigate have already been investigated, and that you
can be spared the trouble, as well as the rides of
undertaking experimental observations with this material.
By reason of the fact that my associates and I in this laboratory have done the major portion of the toxicologic work on tetraethyl lead, and that by reason of this fact we became the medical advisers of Ethyl Gasoline Corporation in connection with all the clinical and hygienic problems associated with the use of this material, we have kept closely in touch with the problems which have arisen from its use. Prom our ex perience I would assume that you are interested in obtaining some knowledge as to the skin irritations which are asso- ^ elated with contact with gasoline containing tetraethyl lead. As a matter of fact, such irritations occur in con nection with all gasolines, though somewhat more soffrom the present type of high test gasolines, most of which contain considerable concentrations of unsaturated com
pounds that result from modern refining and cracking processes. There is, we believe, some increase in skin irritations and in the severity of skin Irritations as a consequence of the use of these modern gasolines,
It 2
of akin irritation at any time, it would seem that there is some tendency for increasei This we attribute to the changed character of bjaae gasoline rather than to any effect of tetraethyl lead. As a matter of fact, tetraethyl lead itself is not a skin irritant, and we have not able to establish any evidence of sensitivity phehomenSSi in connection with tetraethyl lead. As fairly good evidence that no such phenomena^ exists, I may cite the fact that dermatoses do not occur in connection with the manufacture of tetraethyl lead where, presumably, the contact is greater than in the case of gasoline con taining small percentages of tetraethyl lead.
I have gone to seme detail in mentioning these points since it seems probable that your interest in tetraethyl lead and its effect upon the skin had originated from your interest in a case or cases of dermatitis among persons who handle leaded gasoline. If this is your point of interest, I shall be glad to send you a report of the experimental work which has been done on this problem. If this is not the case, I should like to know what you have in mind as a means of arriving at a conclusion.
Very truly yours.
RAKt^s
Robert A. Kehoe, ;i.D.
KE 0009938