Document YrYZz5ore61nQ0bXd7xgGexON
R E X H . W IL SO N , M . D ., F . A. C . P. M E D IC A L D IR E C T O R
TheB.F.GoodrichCompany
Akron, Ohio
May 20, 1963
Dr. Robert A. Kehoe Kettering Laboratory College of Medicine - Eden Avenue Cincinnati 19, Ohio
Dear Bob:
We have been using metallic lead at our Marion, Ohio plant for over ten years. The use involves a relatively small group of employees, many of whomhave had a number of years' exposure. Over this entire period of time we have had no problem of lead intoxication until late last year. We have examined all of the exposed personnel over this approximate ten-year period, twice each year and have included with it quantitative lead analyses of blood and urine speci mens. For a number of years immediately following the opening of this plant in the early 1950's, we forwarded the specimens to your laboratory for these analyses. During more recent years, our Department of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology has been doing them.
During the latter part of 1962, one of our employees developed mild symptoms of
apparent lead intoxication. Dr. H.R. Imbus, one of our local plant physicians
at Marion, examined this individual (Vernon Hawkins) and a copy of his report,
dated October 5, 1962, is enclosed. It so happened that immediately prior to
this examination the group of employees were checked with blood and urine speci
mens for lead and some elevations in urines and bloods were seen. (See attached
table of serial results.) Mr. ^HH^twassubsequently removed from contact
with lead in November of 1962.
was also removed from exposure
several weeks later, and
early in January of 1963. Since last October
we have performed frequent blood and urine studies on all of the personnel in
volved. On several occasions samples of the collected specimens have been sent
to your laboratory for analysis. I think, in general, the results from your
laboratory and from our own have showed little variation, so that we are con
vinced that the results that we have obtained are reliable.
We have performed repeated industrial hygiene studies of this lead operation at Marion and have found no hazardous exposures. Our in-plant personal sanitation rules require the use of company laundered work uniforms, separate lockers for work and street clothes, prohibition of smoking and eating in the work environ ment, etc. In spite of this, however, and in spite of our inability to find any hazardous exposures, the blood levels of the personnel who were removed from ex posure during late 1962 and have been out of lead exposure since that time have not fully returned to normal. Furthermore, we continue to see occasional blood specimens in the high normal range of those working with lead. (See attached table of serial results.)
Dr. Robert A. Kehoe Page Two May 20, 1963
1 amenclosing a table of our serial blood and urine examinations dating from October, 1961. The values above the line in each of the boxes are spot urine results expressed as milligrams per 100 ml. and those below the line are blood results expressed as milligrams per 100 grams. We have not performed duplicate blood determinations in all cases. Where they were performed, two blood results are shown. Our collection and analytical techniques require the use of Vacutainer tubes and the dithizone procedure. 1 amalso enclosing, in addition to Dr. Imbus' report on M r.^ im ^ of October 5, 1962, a letter from Dr. Imbus to Mr. John Sofie of November 15, 1962, one from Dr. Murphy (also one of our local plant physicians) to me of November 19, 1962, one from Drs. Murphy and Imbus to Mr. Sofie of November 14, 1962, and Dr. Murphy's letter to Mr. Sofie of April 30, 1963. You will note in Dr. Imbus' letter of November 15, 1962 reference is made to a lead result obtained from the Bio Science Laboratory in California. This specimen was sent to that laboratory by the employee's personal physician.
In an effort to further delineate the cause of this problem, we analyzed blood
specimens from
and Mr.
These re
sults were found to be entirely normal, indicating to us that the problem was
not in the home environment.
I would appreciate your reviewing these results and the attached reports that I am submitting to you. I would like to have the benefit of your thinking as to the following:
1. The reason for the failure of Messrs.
a n d ^ ^ B to return
to normal blood values after removal from exposure.
2. The advisability of returning either of these personnel to lead ex posure at this time.
3. Any recommendations you may have for maintaining satisfactory medical or environmental control.
We, of course, expect to pay you for this consultation and, therefore, will you
kindly submit your bill in your reply to me. If there is any further information
that you need, we shall attempt to supply it, although I have given you all of
our essential information that we now have.
'
cc: Dr. D.M. Murphy Mr. R.H. Van Sickle
0005603
MARION LEAD RESULTS (Stripping Operation)
10/61
2/62
10/62
11/62
11/27/62
12/62
1/63
2/63
3/63
4/1/63
'
4/25/63 5/6:
-0.07 0.05
ccu** 0.04
0.05
0.02 0.03 0.20 0.11 0.14
0.04 0.07 0.07 0.03 0.08 0.06
0.05 0.06 0.02 0.04 0.08 0.04 0.05 0.07
0.07 0.09 0.07 0.05 0.09
0.09 0.05 0.06 0.04 0.07
0.03 0.07
0.15 0.06
0.0
O.Of
0.0? 0.10 0.06 0.07
0.08 0.09 0.09 0.04 0.06
0.04 0.06
0.11 0.05 0.08 0.03 0.03 0.05 0.03 0.06 0.07 0.05
0.07
0.05 0.03 0.08 0.15
0.07 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.03
o.o;
0.21
0.03 0.06 0.08
0.08 0.06 0.06 0.07 0.05
o.o:
| 0.04
0.06 0.0;
I 0.03 11.0 0.10 0.16 0.06 0.03 0.05 0.03 0.05 0.02
0.11
0.04 0.17 0.07 0.06 0.07 0.03 0.07 0.08 0.04
fc
0.08
0.07 0.06 0.07
0.05
|
0.03 0.06 0.09k
0.04 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.02
0.04 0.06 0.05
0.05 0.02 0.06 0.06 0.04
0.06 0.07
0.04 0.05 0.08 0.04 0.05 0.04
0.05
0.05 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.06 0.04
0.07
0.04 0.07 0.05
0.07 0.05 0.13 0.03 0.05 0.05
0.06
mmmmm0.02 0.03
0.04 0.04
0.03 0.06 0.04 0.10 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07
0.07 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.05 0.06
0.05
0.05 0.05 0.01 0.06
0.03 0.06 0.06
o.c o.c o.c
* *
0.02 0.06 0.02 0.03 0.06 0.02
0.07
o.c o.c o.c
0.01 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.05 0.06 0.05
0.05
o.c o.c
o.c
0005604