Document RaNLnYJEozGEemgkdEw8b9MmE

U. H. SCHAEFER. GENERAL ma n a g e r . Et h y l Ga s o l in e Co r p o r a t io n Ma x i!|'a g t iih in -(; a n d Tr a l 'I'k ; Du p a iit me n t PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO-'CHRYSLER BUILDING AOS LEXINGTON AVE.,NEW YORK CITY November 25, 1940 Dr. Willard Maohle College of Medicine University of Cincinnati Eden & Bethesda Avenues Cincinnati, Ohio Dear Dr. Machles Thank you very much for your letter of November 18 in regard to the cleaning of Ethyl Fluid tank car EBAX-302. I would indeed appreciate it if the next time you are in the vicinity of Wilmington you would discuss this matter with Mr. Wasserman at our Deepwater office. Very truly yours. 3-2 N9533 / November 16, 1940 Mr. J. H. Schaefer Ethyl Gasoline Corporation Ghrysler Building New York, Mew York Dear John: In connection with the cleaning of Ethyl Fluid tank car EBAX-502, I gather that you are attempting to obtain conditions within the car that will make It possible for men to work without the use' of air-line respirators. This would he on. ideal sot of aircu.uafences, but one questions whether it is feasible of accomplishment. The analytical figures that you give indicate that washing and aeration will effectively reduce the amount of lead vapor in t-he air, hut ore always has to consider the possible liberation or exposure to tetraethyl lead or its products 'when work, is actually begun. The little experience that we have had with parts removed from weigh tanks indicates that the application of acid, bromine and the like, will make a very effective coating over lead deposits, but they will not penetrate them to the metal beneath", and accordingly when the surface is disturbed, the process has to be repeated. To see whether any situation such as the above obtains in the seams or irregularities on the inside of the tank car, it might be worth your while to aerate at a constant rate until the air analyses- show a uniform result. Then the interior of the tank oar could be dis turbed by hammering or scraping along the bottom and the aeration procedure then repeated to determine whether or not there is any increase in the evolution of lead vapor. It strikes me that if time is any consideration in this operation, that there is a practical limit to which you can go in attempting to make the car lead-free. When that point is reached, it would seem desirable to have the work carried out with the use of clothing and air-line respirators, particularly since these will protect the workmen against any chance exposure which may come about from uncovering deposits. r> n 7 n :; r Uuuf t i Jj N9533.01 Hr. John Schaefer - (2) - November 1$, 194-0 The variation and inconsistency in the analytical results that you mention is interesting. It could come about of course by channeling of the air-flow* within the tank car, by alteration in the state of the lead deposits with time, and of course by changes in temper ature, and need not necessarily have been due to error in the analytical method. However, it does seem quite logical that you should be satisfied as to the acouraoy of the analytical method, if you are going to use the results of cue method co determine whether or not it is safe for men to work in the tank car. I expect to bo in Wilmington the latter part of this month or the early part of December and will take advantage of the opportunity to look over the tank car in Question while I an there. Cordially, WK: vr Willard Mschie, M.D.