Document NEzQpnEQxL6qQv1G1Ye2XrJwD

August 33* tm Dr* T* Padure&no a/0 Be^no-Americana Flossti Roumania D@a? Doto? Padureanos Sosa days ago I resolved from Mr* Bovan a copy of your lotto? of July ?t& addressed to Ethyl Export Corporation* in which yon asked for oertaln information about the hazards associated with exposure to aviation benzine as dts* tingntshed from automobile benzine* For your infer* nation* I wish to all your attention to the fact that aviation benzine does not differ materially in Its chemical composition from automobile bensine* To be sure the specifications are somewhat different but one is dealing here tilth a mixture of hydro-carbons which are not materially different from those which occur In automobile benzine* Bo speciflo studies have been made on aviation benzine* Sosa observations have been mad on persons exposed to aviation benzine containing lead concentrations up to as high as 6 oo of tetraethyl load por American gallon* These results have not been pub lished because they do not differ in any vise from results obtained In the study of persons exposed to automats! 1 behsine* However a very considerable experience has shown that there are no undue hazards associated with the handling of aviation benzine even though it may contain from 4 co to 6 oo of tetraethyl lead per American gallon* From animal experimentation:these results are predictable* and If you will refer to one of the articles which I sent you on Th Behavior of Tetraethyl Lead In the Animal organism* you will flat experimental data on animals which show that tetraethyl lead is not abaorbed in appreciable quantity out of benzine* if the concentration is not In excess of one part por thousand* This concentration represents approximately if ec of tetraethyl lead per American gallon and is,therefore* well beyond the limits of the lead concentration shown by the product supplied by Romano-Americana This evidence* I feel* will serve to answer your question and will also show that the. statement-in the arfcible by Major Doctor Od* Apostal is based oa Idequate observation* The symptoms listed In your latter which Dr* Apostol attributes to the effects of lead absorption, are essentially those of either benzine Intoxication or carbon monoxide intoxication, or a combination of the two* I am very certain that the doctor has not seen persons with lead line as a consequence of this type of exposure. I am also quite oertaln that ffo.6 in the list of symptoms given by you, can be produced by any type of benzine. Apparently the doctor does not realize that benzine has an Irritating effect upon ths skin, pro ducing blisters and a type of dermatitis in some persons which does not heal if exposure Is continued* naturally I can not be sure of the concentrations of tetraethyl load which are used in aviation benzine in all parts of the world* Military men in some instances have had their own ideas on the proper concentrations to us, and 1 have known of in stances in which benzine containing as much as 20 cc of load per gallon have been used for experimental purposes, ife have always discouraged such practices and we have attempted to keep concentrated Fluid out of the hands of irresponsible persons so that such concentrated fuels would not be mad. As you know, we have made every attempt to see that benzine is mixed with tetraetnyl lead only at refineries and at approved mixing plants. I am quite sure that commercial aviation benzines as provided by the companies that manufacture leaded benzine present no greater hazard to handlers than is found in the case of automobile benzines# I trust this will answer your questions and that you will have no difficulty finding the reference in the article which I mentioned. If thsr are any further difficulties over this matter, I would appreciate your keeping me informed about them. Cordially yours. RAX* is cc Mr. Bevan Sobert "&' "siehdV'' iCB'*' KE 0013364