Document NG4Q67dkRvd6vm26M6qJQG8mg

June 14, 1961 Arnold Sauter Dr. med. Direktor des Eidgenossi schen Gesundlieitsamtes Jubilaurasstrasse 21 Berne Switzerland Dear Doctor Sauter: I am mindful of your courtesy at the time of my visit to Berne in the early summer of 1960, when in the company of Mr. David Roffey and Dr. P. Barry of The Associated Ethyl Company of London, I met with you and your associates to discuss the hygienic aspects of the development of the use of tetramethyllead in motor gasoline. In reciprocation thereof, I am sending herewith two copies of an Interim R port which was prepared late In March in response to the request of officers in the military services of the United States, in order to provide them with up-to-date information on the status of the matter. As you may remember, our earlier observations on this problem (aside from some fairly elaborate toxicological investigations that are still under way) consisted of an Investigation of the concentrations of organic and inorganic lead in the air of a garage in which gasoline containing tetramethyllead was being handled and used, as well as the evidences, if any, of the occupational absorption of lead by the men who worked in various capacities in this garage. The present report deals with the periodic measurement of the vapor of tetramethyllead in the air at various installations at which gasoline containing tetramethyllead is being prepared and distributed through commercial channels, and with the extent of the exposure of the men who carry out the commercial operations, as evidenced by periodic determinations of the concentration of lead in their urine and blood. The commercial distribution of this type of gasoline began in four States in Western U.S.A., in May of 1960. We planned to follow the developments in the maimer indicated above, over the period of a full year, and to make a formal report as soon thereafter as possible. The environmental part of the investigation has just been concluded (at least, for the present), and the last series of examinations (and analyses) of the workmen will be completed in July. . It is only by reason of the special request of the military establishment 0003024 Arnold Sauter, M.D. - -a - June 14, 1961 for Information, that the Interim Report is available, but since it is no available, I have thought that it might be useful to yourself and your associates. I suspect that Or. II5&1 of the Lead Commission may be Interested in seeing it. Zn any case, I am pleased to make available to you the information which we have been able to obtain, for such use as you may have for it. Copies of the final report will follow later, and if, in the meantime, you should have any question to put to me, X shall be pleased to answer as well as I can Cordially yours, PAX: as cc: 1r. Wm. Perdue Jr. I'nclosures Robert A. Keiioe, M. D. 0003027