Document YD07JzqGEpM4KVXZn25w3exm0

MaiftMlHaM *V 26, 1965 Led in Air ! Ve have now had an opportunity to review la tort detail the Public Health Service Publication Ko. 999-AP-12 entitled "Survey of Lead la the Ataoejtiere of Three Urban Coceualtlee". Aa nentlooed la our previous announcement to you, dated April 20, this report covers ooe of the most Intensive air pollution studies ever conducted anywhere. Data frca this study effectively corroborate earlier findings that the amount of lead In the atmosphere Is very low, and as such does not constitute a public health problea In air pollution. The findings confirm and add to those of the Satlooal Air Sampling network, revealing no Increase In the concen tration of lead in the atmosphere la these three cities la the last five years. la fact, data Indicate that la Cincinnati the tread has been downward since 19<*6. Recognizing that environmental data aloof have Halted validity as far a* public health Is concerned, the Investigators Included a human sampling program in the study. The results of these biological samplings show that there has been no significant accumulation of lead in the human body. Blood and urine specimens analyzed for lead were collected from groupe of the population who have high, but d o o -occupational, exposure to lead. These groups included traffic control police, letter carriers and long distance coaruters vis freeways, all of whoa had been Involved In these ' activities at the same location at least five years. Mean blood lead values for these groups, expressed In meg. , (nlcrogrsas of lead per 100 grans of whole blood) ranged froa a low of 13 In Philadelphia to a high of 31 1 Cincinnati. Accepted blood lead noraal values for occupationally exposed Individuals are froa bO tO 60. * In a Halted study of persons with chronic diseases, nOseffect of these diseases on the blood lead level could be demon strated. The range of aeon blood lead values for ths chronically 111 suffering frca respiratory, liver, blood and boos conditions was frca a high of 2b to a low of lb meg. as line . iv m* ."awe of the U. 8. Public Health Servlet In Houston, Hey 7, at the Annual Meeting of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, and viU b reprinted In an early issue of the Journal of the Anerlcaa Induatrlal Hygiene Association. Because of the Importance and tinelinen of this report, we are taking thla scans to present to you soae of the factual data contained therein. Ho public distribution of the report has yet been aade. Don C 7x#lr I>irector of Health Safety : : : : H I i