Document YqGwxpO02KvebQ1envkY794k

V, J. B. HAPTN ER,PRESIDENT *J. M . BOWL.BY.VtC6 PRES I CENT K.C. BROWNELL, VICE PRESIDENT a. A. M ARTINO, Vice PRESIDENT ROBERT LINDLEY 2IEGFELD, SECRETARY-TREASURER 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE NEW YORK 17.N-Y. MANFRED BOWDITCH DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY February 11956 Robert A. Kehoe, M.D., Director Kettering Laboratory University of Cincinnati Eden Avenue Cincinnati 19, Ohio Dear Bob: You may remember that, in response to my request, you were kind enough to write me on June 2lith of last year a letter which I was able to use in behalf of one of our Australian member companies. The Broken Hill Associated Smelters Proprietary Limited. It has taken some time to secure from them a statement with regard to the legislative troubles with which they were and are beset, but this has now come in the letter of which a copy is herewith, sent with the thought that you may find it of some interest. The "Act" referred to in Mr. Love's paragraph numbered six is by all odds the most stringent piece of anti-lead-paint legislation ever to come to my attention. Let me know if you care to see it. MB: GW Enclosure t h e mmu h il l v j a c ia m. a -w s l pmpkrytji ir sr t Gollins House, Sielbourne, C. 1 0 u Airsiail* 2?th January, 3-9^6* the ' 'screiary. Lead Industries Association, ItQ Lcoiington Avenue, ?re* Y"3K I?, d.T* Hoar Tir, '? refs' to eurrespondenee exchanged with you, and particularly to ..** v.jwdltca's letter ox' Lh ultimo, ; toe attitude ox the Australian feneration of Organisations of the blind towards the use of paints containing lead* ? ' e regret that wo did not let you unow the final -.utcoise onz the federation took no further action and we ,i.dsed it best to '"let sleeting do r? lie*!r 3. ''ad the Federation gone ahead the information and opinion'- whinit you sent us would days been seat useful* Te have been glad to nave this information on band in case of need* 1* Tt -say oe of interest if \m sot hut brief notes on the attitude of the authorities in this country towards the use. of lead in general anc pairrtn in particular* 5* ,ir-guiatlona relating to th health of lead workers in the bate of Victoria are already known to you bavin?; ueen sent to you with our Letter -'373 of the lith Desemner, V?$3* 6* Br, Foulger, in' his letter dated 3rd June, 1^5?, enclosed with rr* Powditoh,s letter dated lath June, refer to report'! from Queensland* The 'ueenslaad Icpartaent handling health aid rsedical services has fo.il-.>wd this matter up very strongly and recently the Queensland Legislature passed a lav? en titled '"The ilealth Acts Amendment Act of 1?55'* which aments to a total prohi bition on the use of paints containing load. In this case the question of blind ness, so far as we know, did not arise. A copy of tois et is enclosed la case you would like to see it* 7* Inis proposed Legislation, whilst still under consideration, was dioenssod at length with the Queensland authorities but they proved quite adatrnnt and would not consider any modification* Q* As Br. i/oulger has noted, the conditions in Queensland do not exist in the other Australian Htates and it scorns unlikely that such drastic legislation '#111 he introduced els ownere* 9. The Victorian authorities contemplate Legislation of which the effect may be summarised as follows* RH 0014907 * - ' %bOifb'A:: .u N18559.01 'V fil. regulations-will be promulgated In the near future nndr the Poisons Act, and ^111 probably oe operative as from i.-?t t-t-v9 l^b* :y t.hat it is expected that all manufacturers will be abl-> ta clear their atm stocks of paint not complying with the Reyniaiione* ?, All pigmented arcrsiteeturai paint sold for domestic use, the pigment of which contains nor than 13 of soluble lead calculated as i:hos as deter* ained &/ the specified method (Copy of wnieh is attached hereto) are to bear the following statement*- COilTAlSn bAJJ r,nat not be used on roofs used for water collection or on articles used bf children* ;'he words '*Gp?!TAI?Ik LKfl"5! mast be in s type sise not smaller than that of the nm of the colour appearing on the tin* The remainder of the decla ration may be In smaller type, provided it is large enough to be clearly legible. The fioove statement "mvi o r placed In n conspicuous position on tno nin, preferably on the lid* Its inclusion with the tractions for "so" oill not be permitted* 3* Tie ton "?aintJ? as used above which refers to raint no Id for drusestic use, is in Interpreted In the broadest .sense and, without Uniting the `rdinsry meaning includes any substance* of any kind whatsoever used, or Intended to be used, .for application as a colouring or protective coating to any surface, the v*r.a includes oil paint, water paint, emulsion paint, ensstej, nitrocellulose lacquer and distssper, bat enviously does not In clude uapigmcc&ed finishes such as Varnishes or clear rdtrocalltilose lacquer* ;-.* venbers af the industry are relieved from my obligations to refrain froa advertising the fact that cone or all of their products conform to the Hegulstiona^ Our savice*is that this seems reasonable under all the circumstances and that no good purpose would be served by trying to oppose it* It seoae to be generally agreed that lead containing paints should not be used for articles of furniture with which Infants and young children may cerae in contact* This is Indeed stationed ay f-r* t-reenburg in his letter dated the 15th June, 1955, to Tr. 'Usr ditch* 10* .is far as white lead paints are concerned use in this country seems to be disappearing and consequently it sight not be worthwhile to devote too tmach time or trouble to combat legislation against the use of a material vdiieh stay dins: pear in any case before so very long* "'e naturally dt-plore the declining use of white lead paints but there is no point in refusing to face facts* The ns of lead for colours and for undercoats seems firmly established and likely to continue. e would be in terested to have any views you may care to esepres* on the probable future of while load paint for finishing coats* II. v.sy we say again that we very much appreciate the co-operation wo have had from you and in the event of any further difficulty here we snail be only too glad to avail ourselves of your kind asoietanca once again. Kir 0014908 /a/ for Tours faithfully, S* u>ve Brian Taylor Secretary*