Document O1pEoBGyXB5ddLn1nNBb57MVj

February 1, Ifcd Mr. ..'iliiam .5. Foil!tzer Th~ School of Medicine Department of Anatomy The University of North Carolina Chp.oe 1 hill., March Sardinia ' Dear Mr. Pollitzer: I am not; sure lie anew now raised in your letter of T anuary 22nd > principally for the reason that I have no pro :ei' basis ror judging the degree of toxicological sophist! vat ion out of which the Question arises. If, therefore, my reply seems to impute a consider able content of naivete in the Question,- I trust that you will recognize that I am net being patronizing, cut only simple in my attempt to reply. First let me say fchac modern gasolines (I use the plural advisedly) ar e extremely complex In the 1r composition, having a variety of additives (antiknock: compounds, anti- oxid ative, etc., dc .) in their tailored patV.-vns, all of which are present in low concentrations, The r'-nponents that are obviously toxic in the high o on cent rat i oh s in union they occur, are the netr-i ly-r pM3 O( ^ ^ ' fY' ^ ' y-- > ' -1 v,v- large numbers an i va 'Ji present corves ro la 1 gasolines are high in aromatic hydrocarbons, and these as a group are more toxic than the aliohatic hydrocarbon;. All of them have narcotic properties, being capable in suitable concentration of inducing varying degrees of ds orientation, drunkenness, 'rocsiu':c~, carc -> 1 r : they cay bo .lethal uudr death, are otriple :: 1 / reversible , but from t fairly rarely, I ; cv 1 * zn:y, sc put lac ore td difficult to say just rhy thi= is tru<3, 'xu t even of ethyl alcohol. There is therefore, to be mystified by the occurrence of ivrcv to the central nervous system in the 'vale of .? os is ir.iuced 1134 2- - deeply enough and frequently enough by a variety of :-tr eleum hydrocarbons, than by the alcohols. We are indeed mystified as to thv mechanism, as I Jo not deny, but I Jo not consider_that ve need think of any new or highly specific "toxic agent". Do not misunderstand me as deprecating our knowledge about the oetroleum hydrocarbons. There has been a tremendous human experience which has sold us that thyy are not remarkably toxic. This experience has not been as prolonged as our experience with sone of the alcohols, but it has been intense luring the past forty years. During this period, however, the mixture of hydrocarbons v/hich have encore; into gasolines has vnri:-.; pro Ly in time an- place, and it must be re cognize-.; that we hnv little information very little indeed - about the higher :onatie hydrocarbons. It has been a temptation, which has not even resisted by many persons, some of whom mould know better, to credit the toxic effects exerted by gasoline to its content of lead alkyls (1 a' tetraethyl, tetramethyl, etc.). This, of course, is a matter that has been worthy of investi gation, and much investigation has been carried out. Th-.-re are good reasons for great skepticism concerning the possible role of the-ee compounds in the situation -which you is scribe. / It may be that I have raised certain questions in your mind, instead of providing answers. If so, I should be glad to tear from you further. The phenomena which you describe, are important. 'The "sniffing of gasoline" is not new, but line other addictions of this type it is a crossing affair. Sincere* our PAK:men !ofce: A. v. 01 1 35