Document XOEVMLk13BRgKKL38LzvLOmKd

liij H iw pp .|. n uwpww ipii.pp^ppapiipp gJP l^liH JWWPfAPPBIlW m LIA14121 ---- I S. ^ - v,, .... ..................... I LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION. INC. i i HCW TOMt, M. T. IMI9 miwimt " MU NN *M Ck. p~' .......... ........... >- - > * i ,'V DMMbw 2, 1966 TO: AH Habers of the Lead Industries Association, Ins. f RE: "toed In the tgrlrofoonf. by J.C. Calandra. M.P. Enclosed you *11.' find a reprint of the above paper tdvlch mm presented at our Annual Mooting la St. toule, Mo. thlo year. We oro tending you tho onclooed paper u mo fool It la an soceellant sumary of tho present situation concerning tho general field of load and health. The Inforaatlon contained therein can bo used In answering any questions you Bight receiee on tho subject of envirocseental contamination from load. &ctra copies of the reprint are available as long as tho supply lasts. Tory truly yours, DCf/je Eno. Don 0. fowler giin.iimmmi. i. j . miyjiM .mg, II- j i. I IWII '.I.JB ^`ifc,a;i*M^BBaa&iial^^ i uni j j i,tnmu..j WtwWWIBM!g^ LIA14122 - '** AM^A-dCf XZlt&X-wMt&XKbtm iirci Ttcftoh^rifia LEAD m THE ENVIRONMENT h J. C CALANDRA* MX. ^F^ffPMOC fmidcnt ond Dv*ctor, lodutfriot Ko -TmI lobocrtortw, Int, Northbrook. M. PrMMttd at 38th Annual Mooting of tho Lead Induitri** Association, Inc Chat* Fork Flaxa Hotol, St. Louis, Me March 31-April 1, 19M M*.i JP11 !W*MWi,*"."i -j .iiLM mill iip m. mrn<M**n, N 3443.01 .V iHfiy |W uwwpijmppif' LIA14123 l ead iv sa Ewntcmarr #. C. Calandra Tbe Importance of chemicals la au'i social, eccccolc ud occupational environment ha* reached the highest level la history. This Interest ha* resulted la an Increase in exposure of man to chemicals under a vide variety of clrcuestancee. Chesslcala ere added intentionally or Incidentally to our diet*, the air ve breathe, the drugs ve use, the streams ve fish, the lands ve hunt end for s*ny of us, chemicals are Important and necessary In tbe Job* vs perfon rod the products ve produce. Sc s m vould have us to believe thet these exposures are not being regulated, monitored or supervised. That men It being Indiscriminately subjected to many unknown and indescribable dangers Is far from the truth. --- --- --.-----w u. wn fnwuu are oemg carried oc In ell situations vhere chemicals end ether substances are used and tbe possibility of limited or oast population exposure is present. Ptood additives, pesticides, drugs, cosmetics end eir end veter contaminants undergo extensive and intensive study by Industry end government agencies. The scientific research programs Involved ere highly sophisticated and are designed to define very critically the biological effects of these materials. The Food and Drug Administration, 0. S. Public Health Service, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior, Pish and Wildlife Service and Air and Water Pollution Cemnissions on a local and national level are among govembest agencies Involved in this extremely important task. Industry provides similar safeguard* and Information through the Integrated actlvltle* of the Industrial physician and nurse, the Industrial hygienist and toxicologist and the safety engineer. As team these Individuals define tbe biological and physiological effects of chemicals. This information 1* used to develop tbe measures required to control or eliminate possibly dangerous or offending agents. The total effort le extremely large and carries vith It a great moral responsibility. Unfortunately, it Is little understood or appreciated by the general public. This reeulta In our falling prey to such scare sltutatlons, among others, as were created by the pub* llcation of "Silent Spring," the "cranberry case," the paraffin vex and cancer claims. One recent sillegation thet the average resident of the U. 8. Is being subjected to severe chronic lead exposure la the atmosphere vas vldely publicised In spite of carefully assembled fact shoving that this Is not so. Reader* of the book, "Silent Spring," were led to believe that peatielde* were being u*ed uanectstSLrlly end indiscriminately, that the general public va* being poitooed, and that In a fev year* *st fora* of flab and wildlife would be extinct. Little sentIon va* aade of tbe lsten*lv* research progrea* that are carried out on each Individual agricultural chemical that Bay enter tbe biosphere. The research program* define tbe biological properties of these aaterlals as precisely as possible using all of the research tools available. Die levels of use that are established as a result of this effort are safe levels with aarglns of safety ranging fra* 100 to several thousand fold. Extensive Investigations proved that there was no danger la eating cranberries treated with a certain chemical. Paraffin wax vas cleared for use by the food and Drug Administration after sufficient evidence vas presented to reconfirm tbe belief that it eas not a carcinogen. trlbutor to air pollution In general and to dangerous lead exposure specifically. Because of these allegation* a syxpositn of scientist* va* held In Washington, D.C. last December on environttental lead contamination. lb* stated purposes of the sjoposlta vere: A. To eveluate the degree of exposure to lead frae *11 source*. B. To appraise tbs need for research and control aeasure*. One subject for considerable discussion va* whether there vas a biological basis for the reduction or elimination of lead cespound* from gasoline. Although useful suggestions for continued research on lead vere developed at this meeting, there vas no evidence presented that contradicted existing knowledge about lead In the enviroiEent and it* relevance to man. let us examine seme of this knowledge In the proper historical and scientific perspective. Tbe Intensive study of lead first cam* into focus In 1923 when the question vas raised as to the extent and possible effects of emissions of lead compounds from exhausts of automobiles using leaded gasolines, then a new development. Under the aegis of the U.S. Surgeon General, a scientific study was made. Including examination of peopls In clo** contact with leaded gasoline and exhausts. A Public Health Service report vas issued saying there vas no reason not to use the l**d*d gasoline but that studies should be continued. "V SS! Research did continue mu ever-broadening scale -- end thvui It was that 3$ years after thle first report, a proposal wee Bade to Increase the permissible lead content of gasoline to Beet requirements of newer high powered engines, particularly In aviation. Another thorough and critical review was undertaken to assess ones again the question of biological significance of lead In the atmoephere, and once again the Public Health Service could find no scien tific reason not to perr.lt the Increase la the upper level of lead content. It should be noted, In passing, that even today, the average content of lead la gasoline Is not up to the previously accepted level. Chly a few specialized gasolines, such as high test aviation gas, utilizes the higher lead level contents. Thus, throughout this entire period there have been aecissulated findings by distinguished scientists of goverrnent, industry and universities which have been reported In detail In scientific Journals and In monograph* Issued by the U. S. Public Health Service. It Is important, therefore, to point out that lead In the atmosphere baa been the subject of scientific study for at least 10 years and that tbs biological affects of lead In the biosphere are among the aoet Aid Us tdidB w* *** > SMbatau .W IlMdUU Minute amounts of lead enter the body with food and water taken in. Approximately 90 percent of whatever lead enters the body cents In this way, and the rest -- about 10 percent -- enters by In halation. The normal Intake -- which varies from tine to time and place to place with Individuals -- Is approximately three-tenths of a milligram. That's roughly 00a one - hundred-thousandth of an ounce. Dealing even with this tiny amount, science has developed tbe know-bar to determine what happens to this intake. It it by and large elim inated by natural body processes. The result is a dynamic equilibria ' under average exposure conditions -- In a word, the output equals the input. This Is a greatly simplified starvation of the results of years of study of the metabolism of lead In tbe body. Everyone recognizes that too much lead is toxic and under conditions of massive accidental exposure may cause illness as well as death. This sane statement can be made about many chemicals and other every day substances. But because of the ability to measure lead and the knowledge of Its action, today even Industrial and accidental cases of excessive lead exposure are relatively rare. Thle is because we are able to knew hew much exposure may be the point of "too much" and to measure the conditions under which this could happen and to determine in individuals when It might be happening. Let us examine the present day situation as It relates to man's exposures to lead firm various sources In the envlrocxaent. Min'e diet accounts for 9^ of his lead Intake. Extensive studies on this point have conclusively proven that the lead Intake from foods has decreased In tbe last 30 years. t I?" r onppwta -HfM LIAl4126 UK. -*v Jfa Lead la & component of drinking water. The results of 531 inCyiti of municipal water supplies la this country shewed thet til wn below the prescribed standard for lead In enter and that 6&t contained 1/5 or less of the ra.rt.ron allowable concentration. The Industrial or occupational ensure to lead has decreased la the past 30 years. The lead levels of workers exposed la foundries, auto body plants, printing shops, battery plants, etc. have decreased. This situation has resulted because of leprcnred working conditions achieved through the efforts of xenageaent and the industrial health tees. Husy of you have heard of the Sri-City Survey which involved aultlple air analyses for leed In Los Angeles, Claeianstl and Phila delphia. Analyses for lead in blood and urine of selected groups of hundreds of people la the population of these cities were also con ducted. United investigations were nade of the coocentration of ataospberle lead in heavy traffic and in a vehicular tunnel. The ourooaee of this survey were -- In Vrf*e> -- to set up benchnarke for latching the lead content la the air of cities, and in the blood aad urine of selected populations. -- to get lnfomatlon that will permit continuing review of the effects, if any, of lead concentrations la the air aad la the population. -- aad to see whether there were aay important differences in the blood and urine levels of people with different types of txpotMrt to camnlty etaosphere. The sponsors of this extensive and revealing project were the U. S. Public Health Service, the manufacturers of lead antiknock additives, the petroleun industry and other appropriate organizations. The concentrations of lead in air found in this study agreed with those obtained during the sane period by the Rational Air Sanpling Network of the Public Health Service. There was no evidence of an upward trend in the lead content of the atmospheres of the three cities studied. In fact, the trend in Cincinnati appeared to be downward since 1946. The lead In air analyses nay be brought love better focus by pointing out that the levels found are 50 to 150 tines less than tboss considered to be safe for an occupational exposure of eight hours per day for a working llfetixw. ; i ....... . ap m m i i" 1 LIA14127 m a*;, fit* lead la blood analyses for 2300 persona and urine analyses for 1700 salei of the iim group revealed that persona not having a high occupational exposure to lead had normal blood and urine lead values. Cbly U persons vers found to have concentration* of lead In their blood equal to or In excess of the aaount generally believed to be Dorsal. And these 11 persona vere frea groups that had an opportunity for Industrial exposure to lead. Zven so the lead levels obtained in all groups -- Including these 11 -- vere vlthia the presently accepted norsel range for bunans and vere not significant i In terns of lead Intoxication. These results are comparable to those found In previous studies. Zt Is important to note that the data vere obtained during a period In vhleh there has been a larga Increase In the consumption of leaded motor fuels. 1 These findings are reinforced by data presented at a World Health Crganixatlco meeting in Geneva at vhleh mu reported the results of approximately 2500 analyses for blood and urine levels Involving men L and venen of 1$ countries in differed parts of the varld. Suae --------'*- MVMe.ed 4V*A *1 a ^ V S.. . t . * * . . * . * and urine levels have not occurred In tbs past 30 yean. t Hew the tiny amounts of lead get Into and out of the body, and vhat fora the lead Is In are lsportant aspects of this lead question. All of the lead vhleh enters the body or Is present is the enrirrswient Is not biologically active. This Is certainly true at the levels of eovlroaoectal exposure to lead. The body adjusts to increased lead Intake by Increasing the output via the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract and thereby maintains its lead balance and avoids toxic sysytem*. Another protective mechanise available to the body Is the storage of lead In the skeleton. Recently, a nuaber of studies have shova no correlation between bone lead concentrations and time of residence la an area, and d o correlation betveen concentration and are. These end other results definitely shew that there bax bees little change In bone lead concentration in the past 30 years during vhleh time the constnptlon of leaded gasoline has Increased. Zt Is Important to keep In r.lnd that more Is known about the biological effects of lead than about almost any other air borne sub stance. This knowledge has been gained through Industrial hygiene experience as veil as by sophisticated animal and Inman experiments. Although there ere differences of opinion as to vhat is "normal" t i and a*kfe, present evidence Indicates that the established levels of lead in blood are safe or normal physiologically. The present thresh ! old values for lesd In the air, blood and urine. In my opinion, are sound and useful guides. However, one cannot exclude the poesibillty that minimal biological changes may occur at low levels of lead exposure. A few scientists, saae of than non-medical, have questioned whether the present quldes on lead values and effects of lead are adequate, although they offer no evidence to show otherwise. Pmm. ww--i.. ttiiH fiiiilin M M inriIttdhifcO iim u w fcutafc j niiiijif, ij p p > Jiipypi ijj.jip.mi! LIA1A128 naatetiHiarMi Ho on* will argue that additional Information relative to tha radical, tendcological and Mtabolic aspect* of laad exposure la necessary. Thl* infconation 1* dsslrabl# In relation to -- to u* technical temlnoloor -- rlbotamal and mitochondrial enxyae effect*, reproduction, cental develcpnent, the Integrity of the central nenrwi* syttea, the cardiovatcular systaa and besatopoletlc syttea and the industrial and urban envirorcents wherein large eegaent* of the population are involved. In oedicine, as la cost situations, it Is practically li^osslbl* to prove the negative. However, everyone baa the sane goal -- the protection of the health ana welfare of the general and Industrial population. The sore knowledge that can be developed the better we will be able to cope with questions and problaoa if and as they arise. la fulfilloent of thl* responsibility the Laad Industrie* Association, the 0. 8. Public Health Service*, the American Fetroleun Institute and Lead Alkyl Manufacturer* are cooperating la the develop* ant, irplasieniatloc aad financing of scientific research procreate la depth to attest to resolve the important questions concerning the subcllnleal and subcellalar effects of load in the research areas i*ii >sx> Vmmb To net vp the present situation concerning the general field ot load and health, with facts based on recognised research: 1. Aeourrti of lead fraa all sources to which the general pop ulation is exposed do not constitute a health baxard. 2. There has been little chance in the last 20 years in lead intake, output and body retention la the average Wrlcan adult. J. Lead concentrations in the air fro* all sources are low -- fax below levels town to he safe for industrial worker*. b. felstlcGs of lead fraa autaaobll* exhausts are not creating public health baxard and there 1* no evidence that dictate* a seed for elimination of lead fro* gasoline. 5. Continued and expanded research into laad in the siul1 mmit and it* significance to bunas being* is necessary and Is being dm. I respectfully suholt that fair play and the proper professional recognition of the large body of scientific data on the toxicology of lead prevail \ortil such tine as the research progran presently under way can provide specific infonaation about the areas in possible question. t|!wuys"p n* ,!J -1.J1 i .*4 1m 1* IMIMIPPRPPffii LIA1A129 .....--....... lb* load la blood analyses for 2300 jxriooi and urins ualyMi for 1700 sales of tbs mu m group revealed that persona not baring a high occupational expoeur* to load had nomal blood and urlao load valuei. Only 11 persons vara found to hava eaocontratlono of load la their blood equal to or la axcoai of the aaount generally believed to be nomal. And thete 11 persons aero frai group* that had aa opportunity for induetrial exposure to load. Evan ao the load levala obtained la all group* -- Including the** 11 -- ware within tbo preaently accepted nomal range for Inmans and were not Significant la texne of lead intoxication. Ibeee rerult* are eceparable to tboee found la previous etudlae. It 1* inportairt to note that the data were obtained during a period la which there ha* bean a larga iacraaae la tbe cocsvsqrtloo of loaded Motor fuel*. These finding* ara ralnforead by data praoaatod at a World Boaltb Organisation seating la Oeaeva at which we* reported the reeulto of approxicately 2300 analyse* far blood and urine level* involving sea and wosen of 1$ eountrle* in different parte of the world. Ssaaa * * ***** laiad *Va* V..*I at *4 *a33a* * < ^4 mm >i< itVaa*** 4* VI and urine levels hava not occurred la the past 30 years. Bear the tiny aaount* of lead get into and out of the body, and what fom the lead le In art important aspect* of this lead question. All of the lead which enter* the body or is present in the emrlroasent Is not biologically active. This Is certainly true at the levels of ezrrlroteental exposure to lead. The body adjusts to Increased lead Intake by Increasing the output via the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract and thereby nalctalne its lead balance and avoids toxic sysptcBS. Another protective aechaniaa available to the body 1* the storage of lead in the tkeletoc. Decently, a masher of atudies have shewn ao correlation between bone lead concentrations and tin* of residence la an area, and no correlation between concentration and age. these and other results definitely show that there has been little changr in bone lead concentration in the past 39 year* during which tin* the coosvnption of loaded gasoline has increased. It is iaportant to keep In clad that aor* It kaown about the biological effect* of lead than about alnoet any other air borne rob* etance. this knowledge ha* been gained through Industrial hygiene experience as well as by sophisticated animal and Inman experiment*. Although there are difference* of opinion a* to what la "nomal" and safe, present evidence indicates that the established levels of lead In blood are safe or nomal physiologically. Ih* present thresh* old value* for lead in the air, blood and urine, la sqr opinion, are sound and useful guides. However, one cannot exclude the possibility that sinlnal biological changes nay occur at low levels of lead exposure. A few scientists, sen* of then noo-sedical, have questioned whether the present quldes on lsad values and effects of lead are adequate, although they offer no evidence to ahow otherwise. *p ms p'ii