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October 13, 1961 AIR MAIL
xxxxxx Avon 1-2568
Dr. J. G. Hughes Scientific Officer Division of Occupational Health 86 4 88 George Street North Sydney, Australia
Dear Doctor Hughes:
I am pleased to send you the information requested in your letter of October 6th. One of my associates, Mr. Lawrence Schafer may wish to E^ake a more detailed drawing of the equipment than any that is available at present, and if so this letter will be delayed until it is ready. If we have a drawing that will serve your purposes I'll get it off to you promptly with such comments as may be needed to explain it. It is not a difficult problem.
With respect to the precautions involved in the handling of tetraeethyllead you should have no difficulty. You will be (or should be) dealing with only small quantities, and such small quantities present no very great hazard to technically trained persons. The principal problem in a research laboratory is that of limiting the possibility of exposure to those who must, in the nature of the work, handle the compound. In this connection, the custody of the chemical, and the manner of storing it is important. It should be kept, in small quantity, by those who use it, under conditions which will not allow the liquid or the vapor to contaminate adjacent materials. A metal container or, if preferable, a glass container within a metal container, will protect against breakage and spillage. When a container is opened for any reason, it should be handled within a well ventilated hood to prevent respiratory exposure, and constant care should be exercised to avoid contact of the material with the skin.
I presume you would obtain the tetraethyllead from The Associated Octel Company (until recently, The Associated Ethyl Company). If so you Will be supplied with full instructions for the handling of the compound in a laboratory. These are not complex, but common sense instructions. The idea has gained credence in some circles that tetraethyllead is an exquisitely toxic compound. It is not as highly toxicj as many other chemicals, but a modest degree of absorption may result in the accumulation of degradation products in the body. Therefore, it is a subtle and treacherous material. For this reason, somewhat elaborate procedures have been applied within the industries involved in order to protect persons whose occupational exposure continues over pro longed periods of time, since otherwise their familiarity with the compound would breed carelessness arid result inevitably in casualities. The thoroughness of these precautionary measures and of the supervision that has maintained them persistently through the decades has been almost unique
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