Document Z8ybqO2KmNGbvxwgRoNp25py7

O ctober l , 1957 D r. P h ilip Boyd The A sso c ia te d E th y l Company, L td . 20 B erkeley Square * London, W .I., E ngland Dear P h ilip : '< Y our l a s t two l e t t e r s , A ugust 9 ^h and J u ly 3 0 th , came to my o f f i c e when I w as on v a c a t i o n I n C o lo r a d o , an d t h e two d a te d J u ly 2 th came ju s t as I was le a v in g f o r S a lt Lake C ity , where X sp e n t th re e days a t work (o f a 3 o r t) j u s t p r i o r t o t h e s e r i o u s j o b o f v a c a t i o n i n g . S in c e my r e t u r n to my o f f i c e on S e p te m b e r 3 r d , I t h a s b e e n q u ite im p o s s ib le f o r me t o do m ore th a n k e ep my h e a d above t h e f l o o d l e v e l o f th e d a y 's w ork, so t h a t my co rre sp o n d e n ce h as s u f f e r e d a lm o s t c o m p le te e c l i p s e . I am d o u b ly s o r r y - t h a t i s , on both p ro fe ssio n a l and p e rso n al grounds, - th a t th is has been th e c a s e , a n d a n a d d i t i o n a l w e ig h t o f g u i l t h a n g s o v e r me f o r n o t r e p l y i n g e a r l i e r to a l e t t e r o f y o u r s o f May 2 8 , w ith i t s generous sip p ly of in fo rm atio n . I can only ask fo r your fo rb e a ra n c e f o r a p p e a rin g to be la c k in g i n b o th c o u rte s y , a n d r e g a r d f o r y o u . I am s u r e y o u know t h a t th e a p p e a r a n c e i s n o t th e f a c t . I b e lie v e I s h a l l be a b le to do b e t t e r in th e f u tu r e , f o r th in g s a re lo o k in g a b i t more h o p e fu l, b u t I may be u n d u ly o p t i m i s t i c . C e r t a i n l y , t h e r e a re s t i l l many th in g s w aiting to be done. I s h a ll b e g in w ith y o u r l a s t l e t t e r , and work backw ard to t h e f i r s t . L e t me s a y , h o w e v e r, b e f o r e b e g i n n i n g a n y k i n d o f resp o n se, th a t you m ust not allow y o u rse lf to doubt th a t I would respond p ro m p tly to any u rg e n t c a l l from y o u . Thus f a r t h e p ro b le m s w h ic h y o u h a v e b r o u g h t t o ray a t t e n t i o n w ere not e s p e c ia lly u rg e n t, or s o . i t seem ed to me, and I could s e t them a s id e f o r c o n s id e r a tio n a f t e r more u rg e n t m a tte rs had b e e n d is p o s e d o f . As you know th e d a y o f r e c k o n in g te n d s to ex ten d i t s e l f farth er and f a r t h e r in to th e f u tu r e , when one i s p r e s s e d f o r t im e , a n d w h ile .1 h a v e n o t done w e l l , I h av e n o t , I hope, fa ile d e n tire ly to give th in g s a reasonable p r io r ity . I f you m u st have a prom pt r e p ly from me, o r some s o r t of prom pt a c tio n , do n o t h e s i t a t e to t e l l m e. T can alw ays c a b le , and I d o n 't re g a rd a n y th in g I can do fo r y o u , o r f o r Roy B evan, o r i n d e e d f o r A s s o c i a t e d E t h y l , a s b u rd e n s o m e . As y o u know , how ever, close frie n d s and a sso c ia te s are lik e ly to s u ffe r somewhat in th e se m a tte r s , b y - v ir tu e o f t h e i r known c a p a c ity fo r understanding and to le ra n c e . W ith r e f e r e n c e t o th e p ro b le m o f b u r i e d s l u d g e , we h a v e I n d e e d Dr. Philip Boyd -(2)- October 15, 1957 done a g re a t d e a l o f ex p erim en tal w ork. I could p u t to g e th e r a r e p o r t t h a t would seem to be im p re ssiv e by g iv in g th e e x te n s iv e d a ta w h ic h w e. p o s s e s s on th e c o n c e n tr a ti o n o f TEL a n d i t s d e g r a d a t i o n p r o d u c t s (w h ic h we s e p a r a t e d i n t o t r i e t h y l , d ie th y l, m onoethyl and th e in o rg u iic fra c tio n s ) in slu d g e . U n fo rtu n ate ly , none of th e d a ta appear to have mean ing in r e la tio n to the p r a c tic a l problem a t is s u e , and I have n o t p re p a re d any re p o r t a t a l l . The d i f f i c u l t i e s , w hich w ill co n fro n t you as w e ll, i f you u n d e rta k e to in v e s tig a te th is s itu a tio n ; are in the fo llo w in g c a te g o rie s :- (1) i t i s d i f f ic u lt to o b ta in re p re s e n ta tiv e sam ples o f b u rie d slu d g e ; one sh o u ld know th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e slu d g e b e fo r e i t s b u r i a l so as to have a b a s is f o r com parison a fte rw a rd ; the i n i t i a l c h a ra c te r i s t i c s of the slu d g e are a lte r e d by d ra in a g e , seepage in to th e surrounding s o il, and s e ttlin g , and, in a l l p ro b a b ility by se v e ra l o th er f a c to rs ; th e o rg an ic le a d co n ten t of most sludges i s low and th e r e f o r e i t i s d i f f i c u l t to f in d h ig h ly s i g n i f i c a n t d iffe re n c e s b efore and a f te r b u r ia l. In s h o rt, having fa ile d to le a rn anything v ery s ig n ific a n t about th is m a tte r by th e s e e m in g ly s im p le m eth o d o f s a m p lin g `a n d a n a l y s i n g s l u d g e s t h a t h a v e b e e n b u r i e d f o r v a r i o u s f a i r l y l o n g p e r i o d s , we hav e d e c i d e d t h a t t h e o n ly way we c o u l d t a c k l e t h e p ro b le m i s by s e t t i n g up an experim ent in w hich m ost of th e v a r ia b le s would be under c o n tro l. T his has n o t been done because o th e r problem s o ffe re d more prom ise o f b e in g i n v e s ti g a t e d p r o d u c tiv e ly . A ll I can s a y , th a t has any p r a c tic a l v a lu e , i s th a t the r is k a sso c ia te d w ith d igging in to b u rle d slu d g e , a f te r a p erio d o f y e a rs , from the asp ect of v o la tile lea d compounds, i s c o n sid erab ly le s s th an I would have a n tic ip a te d . T h is i s th e c a s e , how ever, in many, I f n o t m ost in s ta n c e s , because th e slu d g e when rem oved and b u rie d was n o t v e r y h i g h i n i t s o r g a n i c l e a d c o n t e n t . (We s u s p e c t t h a t th e-d an g ero u s s itu a tio n in A m erican p r a c tic e number le s s th a n te n p e r c e n t ) . What would happen i f th e slu d g e were r e a l l y h ig h in I t s o rg an ic le a d c o n te n t, and i f i t were to be c o n fin e d in a p a r t o f th e ea* t h t h a t a ff o r d e d l i t t l e o p p o r tu n ity f o r d ra in a g e , o r se e p a g e , in a n o th e r m a t t e r . I s h a l l be i n t e r e s t e d to know bow you approach the problem , i f you decide to in v e s tig a te i t , and a l s o w h a t y o u a r e a b l e t o l e a r n * As my re m a r k s I n d i c a t e , I am n o t v ery sanguine as to th e outcom e o f f i e l d t e s t s o f t h i s ty p e . Now a s t o t h e m a n g a n e s e a n t i --k n o c k com pound, t h i s p r o d u c t l a a com plex o rg a n s -m e ta llic compound - m eth y l c y c lo p e n ta d ie n y l manganese tr ic a r b o r y l. Such compounds, so f a r as to x ic o lo g ic a l lite r a tu r e is concerned, are unknown, and th e only in fo rm atio n a v a i l a b l e i s th e p r e l i m i n a r y in f o r m a tio n w h ic h we h a d o b t a i n e d , and th a t w hich was o b tain ed by Carbon and C arbide f a i r l y r e c e n tly when th ey lo o k ed a t a s im ila r compound o f m anganese f o r u s e , I b e l i e v e , f o r some o t h e r p u r p o s e . ( A c c id e n ta lly , th e r e i s some D r . P h i l i p Boyd - ( 3) - O ctober 15, 1957 p ro b lem h e re w ith r e s p e c t t o p a t e n t r i g h t s , b u t I do n o t know e n o u g h a b o u t t h e m a t t e r t o e n a b le me t o s a y m o r e ) . S in c e th is compound i s one o f a g ro u p o f o rg a n o -m e ta llic compounds, th a t has been under se p a ra te in v e s tig a tio n , ( r e s e a r c h f o r a s a t i s f a c t o r y a n t i knock compound) f o r some y e a rs , i t (and p r a c tic a lly a l l com parable o r analogous compounds) is a la b o ra to ry c u r io s ity and i t would be p r a c tic a lly u n th in k a b le t h a t th e r e would be any to x ic o lo g ic a l in fo rm a tio n on i t . As y ou w i l l r e a l i z e , th r o u g h a g e n e r a l know led g e o f my v ie w s on s u c h m a t t e r s , we b e g a n to e x am in e t h i s com pound, t o x i c o lo g ic a lly , when c e r ta in p re lim in a ry te c h n ic a l ex p erim en ts i n d ic a te d t h a t i t had some p ro m is e . The f i r s t s te p , w hich can be u n d e rta k e n o n ly when th e r e i s re a s o n f o r i t In term s o f some program of continuing te c h n ic a l in v e s tig a tio n , is th a t o f a ' screen in g p ro c e ss, w hereby th e avenues of a b so rp tio n , th e acu te m an ifestatio n s of to x ic ity , and the path o lo g ic p a tte rn , are in v e s tig a te d . T his compound, and a r e la te d s o lid compound, gave such h ig h ly u n u su a l prom ise o f te c h n ic a l u se fu ln e ss th a t th e u su a l s te p s in th e te c h n ic a l developm ent have been sh o rt c i r c u i t e d an d e x p e d i te d . A c c o r d in g ly , a b o u t a l l we h a v e h a d tim e to fin d o u t about th e to x ic o lo g y are th e r e s u lts o f th e p re lim in a ry s c r e e n in g . T h is i s , how ever, much th e m ost d ra m a tic d i s c o v e r y i n th e a n t i - k n o c k f i e l d s i n c e TEL, a n d t h e r e f o r e we have embarked upon an e x te n s iv e , and in te n s iv e , in v e s tig a tio n , w hich Is very lik e ly to ach iev e th e scope and s ig n if ic a n te of th e w ork on TEL, in c lu d in g th e e x te n t and s ig n ific a n c e o f the m anganese in th e e x h a u st. R ep o rts w ill be a v a ila b le from tim e to tim e , and th e se w ill be se n t to y o u . F or th e p re s e n t o u r work d em o n strates only th e o rd e r o f m agnitude o f th e to x ic ity of the compound. I s h a ll n o t b o th e r w ith th e d e ta ils , sin ce a re p o rt on th ese o b se rv atio n s, and on lo n g e r-te rm in v e s tig a tio n s , w ill be o u t f a i r l y so o n . The compound is ab so rb ed th ro u g h th e s k in ; I t i s , o f co u 1so , to x ic when sw allow ed, and i t s vapor can be ab so rb ed , o f c o u rs e , v ia th e r e s p ir a to r y t r a c t . The l e t h a l do-sages and c o n c e n tra tio n s a r e o f t h e o r d e r (so m ew h at l e s s ) o f t e t r a e t h y l l e a d . A l l we can say a t p re s e n t, from both experim ent and ex p erien ce, is th a t the m a te ria l m ust be handled as t e tr a e th y l le a d Is h a n d le d , and th a t i f 3uch p re c a u tio n s a re ta k e n f a ith f u lly , no untow ard e ffe c t I s to be ex p ected . Vie know n o t h i n g a t p r e s e n t o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f th e m a t e r i a l; in th e body,, o r o f i t s m e ta b o lism i n th e b o d y . (T h is i s why p r e l i m i n a r y t o x i c o l o g i c a l d a t a a re of l i t t l e v a lu e ). A n a ly tic a l p ro cedures are being developed to cope w ith th is p a rt o f th e ex p erim e n tal program . E xperim ents on the a b so rp tio n o f th e compound o u t o f g a s o lin e a t d if f e r e n t l e v e l s o f d i l u t i o n a r e u n d e r w a y . I n s h o r t , we a r e p u r s u e l n g as r a p id ly as we c a n , th e f a c t s w ith r e s p e c t to th e h a z a rd s o f m anufacture and h an d lin g , the p o te n tia l hazards re la te d to g a so lin e c o n ta in in g th e compound, and th e p o te n tia l h azard of th e appearance of in o rg an ic manganese (th e n a tu re and degree Boyd - ( ^ ) - O c to b e r 15, I 9 57 '$ot d i s p e r s i o n o f th e com pound i n th e e x h a u s t i s b e in g ..v M l^ iy e s tig a te d i n D e t r o i t ) i n t h e a i r b r e a t h e d by m en . We 121 f a c t i p r e s e n t e d w i t h a l a r g e s e r i e s o f p ro b le m s K-WI--'on Trthich one c o u ld s p e c u l a t e a t l e n g t h , b u t w h ic h m u st be Answered in a f a i r l y d e f i n i te m anner. T h is whole m a tte r %*-' p r o m is e s t o t e l e s c o p e i n t o s i g n i f i c a n t fo rm w i t h i n a s m a ll / f fra c tio n of th e tim e re q u ire d to e x p lo it and develop TEL, and , / t h e r e f o r e , we m u s t make h a s t e c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y . The developm ent o f t h is compound and th e p o t e n t i a l i t i e s f o r i t s u s e , w ith in th e n e x t two y e a r s , in a d d itio n to TEL, in autom obile f u e l, f in is h e s , , I b e lie v e , and c e r ta in ly ho ld s in abeyance, fo r the p re s e n t, any co n sid eratio n of th e fo u rth m i l l i l i t e r o f TEL. As to th e t o x i c i t y o f th e c o m b in a tio n o f lead and manganese in the exhaust g a s, (both in in o rg a n ic form ) a l l I am p r e p a r e d t o s a y i s th a t^ m a n g a n e s e compounds a p p e a r t o be much l e s s d a n g e r o u s - g r a m f o r gram;> - t h a n l e a d . I s h o u ld su sp e c t t h a t th e two would n o t be a d d itiv e in e f f e c t . M anganese i s wide sp re a d in n a tu r e , a n d i s r e l a t i v e l y h ig h in i t s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n t h e v e g e t a t i o n , a n d i n t h e a n im a l; nnd human b o d y . We s h a ll have to le a rn th e f a c ts on a f a i r l y broad b a se , b u t I look w ith c o n s id e r a b ly l e s s c o n c e rn on some in c r e a s e i n o u r e x p o su re to , and a b so rp tio n o f, m anganese, th en I do on a fu rth e r in c re a se of any a p p re c ia b le p ro p o rtio n s in our exposure to le a d . I should say a lso , th a t I look w ith g re a t in te r e s t upon our o p p o rtu n ity t o l e a r n a b o u t m a n g a n e s e , w h a t we now know a b o u t l e a d - th e d e ta ils o f i ts occurence in n a tu re , i t s d is tr ib u tio n in th e anim al organism , i t s m etab o lin , and i t s to ta l p h y sio lo g ic a l s ig n ific a n c e , e s p e c i a l l y f o r m an, s o f a r a s we h a v e t h e w it t o a s c e r t a i n s u c h facts . F i n a ll y , do n o t e x p e c t to have much o f th e in fo rm a tio n on t h i s compound f o r some tim e , b u t when i t becomes a v a ila b le , in re a s o n a b ly s a tis f a c to r y fo rm , I s h a ll fo rw ard i t to y o u . M eantim e, i f a n y s p e c i f i c q u e s t i o n s a r i s e l e t , me h a v e th e m . 1*11 a n s w e r as w ell as our in fo rm a tio n w ill p e rm it. There i s , o f c o u rse , no s e c r e t on th e to x ic o lo g ic a l s id e . T h is compound look3 lik e th e answer to the in v e s tig a to r* s p ray er in the an ti-k n o ck f ie ld , and i f i t f u l f i l l s i t s p re m ise , a l l we c an le a r n m ust be made w id e ly a v a ila b le , not only to the In d u strie s in v o lv ed , but in the lite ra tu re . ' v '. I go now t o th e more tro u b le so n sarm atter o f our m e d ic a l c o n s u lta n ts i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d , an d I am m ore th a n g r a t e f u l t o y o u f o r th e in fo rm a tio n w hich you have g iv en me, and th e su g g e stio n s w h ic h y o u h a v e m a d e . L e t me s a y f i r s t t h a t I c a n n o t f o l l o w o n e of your su g g estio n s, d e sp ite i t s apparent reaso n ab len ess and s im p lic ity . I have been in s tru c te d in a d e fin ite manner by 0010182 D r. P h ilip Boyd - ( ) - O cto b er 15, 1957 Fp_ rreec_jjuWd iacren,e, I '(Eb et hl lyeel v s e , C hie th a f t c o u n s e l) , who i s w ith o u t c o m p e titiv e I m ust n o t, under any circum stances, make any a rra n g em en t w ith y o u w hereby you lo o k a f t e r a n y th in g t h a t may be r e g a r d e d a s E t h y l ' s o p e r a tin g a f f a i r s , o r I lo o k a f te r corresponding a c tiv itie s o f A ssociated E th y l in the c o m p e titiv e f i e l d . You and I can c o n s u lt f r e e ly on m a tte rs o f h y g ie n ic p o lic y , and exchange in fo rm a tio n on m ed ica l m a tte rs and m odes o f p r o c e d u r e , b u t we m u st n o t m ix t h e a c t u a l f i e l d o p e r a t i o n s o f th e two o r g a n iz a tio n s . The i s s u e , fro m th e a s p e c t o f A m erican law i s q u ite c le a r to F re d , and he has in s tr u c te d m e,(n o t ju s t m erely ad v ised m e)a cc o rd in g ly . I have no choice b u t to c om ply. T h e re a r e a s p e c t s o f t h e s i t u a t i o n t h a t s t r i k e me a s u t t e r l y u n r e a lis tic , b u t I have no c h o ic e . I have handled th is g e n e ra l m a tte r as w ell and as sim ply as I can, by a d v isin g the sa le s re p re se n ta tiv e s of E th y l fo r the s e v e r a l a re a s (N ick G a r te r , Ed McDonald and B i l l T r e le a s e ) and th e head p eople in E th y l's S a le s D epartm ent (B ayard Browne, Hank B a l l an d J u l i a n F r a y ) o f my iv ish e s i n th e m a t t e r o f l o c a l c o n s u lta n ts . In a f a i r l y long and d e f in ite co n feren ce w ith them , I have made i t c l e a r t h a t I w i l l n o t have m e d ic a l r e p r e s e n ta t iv e s o f E t h y l p l a c e d i n a n o h - p r o f e s s i o n a l , c o m p e t i t i v e p o s i t i o n . We are to use th e c o n su lta n ts th a t are on th e job whenever th is is f e a s i b l e and d e s i r a b l e , a s ju d g e d by m e. The men a r e to n e g o t i a t e w i t h t h e p h y s i c i a n s l o c a l l y , a c c o r d i n g t o my i n s t r u c t i o n s t o th e m , * and a re t o p ro v id e me \7 ith in f o r m a tio n a n d an e x p r e s s io n o f t h e i r b e s t ju d g m e n t, t h e a c t u a l a p p o in tm e n t t o be made by me o r on my a u t h o r i t y . Two t h in g s h o w ev er, a r e I m p e r a tiv e - (1 ) E th y l m u st m ake; i t s own f i n a n c i a l a rra n g e m e n ts , n o t i n d i s r e g a r d o f y o u r s , r a th e r, so f a r as p o ssib le , lik e y o u rs, and w ith o u t p reju d ice to th e o v e r a l l econom ic and p r o f e s s io n a l r e la tio n s h ip o f th e p h y s ic ia n in q u e stio n ; and (2) th e w orking r e la tio n s h ip ( In s tr u c tio n s , r e p o r ts , e tc , ) betw een c o n s u ita n ts and E th y l's M edical D epartm ent, m u s t b e d i r e c t a n d n o t t h r o u g h y o u . T h e s e f e a t u r e s o f my i n s t r u c t i o n make i t im p o ssib le f o r me to a g re e to y o u r o th e rw ise re a s o n a b le , and s e n s ib le s u g g e s tio n s , f o r m u tu al a s s i s t a n c e . I know f u l l w e ll t h a t we a r e m a k in g a d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n w o rse by m eans o f t h e s e o b liq u e a p p ro a c h e s, b u t I c a n ' t h e lp t h a t - a t th e moment. I s h a l l l e t y o u know, i n due c o u r s e , w h a t we h a v e d one i n t h e a r e a s i n t o , w hich E th y l's b u sin ess; a c t i v i t i e s have caused us to develop con su ltan t rela tio n sh ip s. I a g r e e t h a t we s h o u l d , i f i t i s p o s s i b l e , a r r a n g e f o r some d is c u s s io n o f th e s e m a tte rs betw een A sso c ia te d and E th y l p e rs o n n e l, b u t I have no hope o f b e in g a b le to arran g e th is in th e im m ediate o r n e a r Yuinrbe . I s h a l l k e e p ny e y e s open f o r a f a v o r a b l e o p p o r tu n ity . I m ust sa y , th a t I have p r a c tic a lly no hope o f being a b le to d e a l e f f e c t i v e l y w ith th e D uPont g ro u p in t h i s m a t t e r . I may be w rong, and i f an o p p o rtu n ity p re se n ts i t s e l f fo r d isc u ssio n or a c tio n , I s h a ll take f u l l advantage o f i t . I t Is p o ssib le th a t I can do more ab o u t t h is a f t e r I r e t i r e from E th y l's M edical D ir e c to r s h i p , a t t h e en d o f 1958* t h a n I c an a t p r e s e n t . We s h a l l s e e . I am c e r t a i n l y s ty m ie d a t p r e s e n t . M e a n w h ile , I am w o r k in g a s c o n s i s t e n tl y as p o s s ib le tow ard a s itu a tio n in w hich one c ap a b le p h y sic ia n w ill c a rry o u t the m edical se rv ice on b e h a lf o f the people D r. P h ilip Boyd - ( 6 )- O c to b e r 1 5 , 1957 , T' r `` i . V ' > ' ' ^ a t hazard in a p a rtic u la r area or country, reg ard less of th e s u p p lie r o f th e p ro d u c t. T his i s th e fundam ental th in g ' to be a c h ie v e d , w hereas th e m echanism o f th e r e la tio n s h ip o th e rw ise , w lth re sp e c t to com pensation and p ro fe s s io n a l re p o rtin g , d esp ite i ts n e c e s s ity jis of secondary im portance. I f we c a n h av e t h a t k in d o f p r o f e s s i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y an d c a p a b i l i t y , we a r e i n a g o o d p o s i t i o n , b u t i f wS c a n n o t h a v e t h a t we h av e n o th in g w o rth y o f an y c o n c e rn on y o u r p a r t o r m in e . ' * T h is b r i n g s me t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f D r . A k a t s u k a . I h a v e lo o k e d i n to t h i s m a tte r as w e ll as I know how, (th ro u g h a c o lle a g u e o f h i s , whom I t r u s t ; t h r o u g h e n q u i r i e s I n s t i t u t e d b y N ic k C a r t e r , who, d e s p ite h is prim ary in te r e s t in E th y l' s ad v an tag e, Is an h o n e st man and an a s tu te a b s e rv e r; and th ro u g h d ir e c t co rresp o n d en ce w ith D r. A k a tsu k a ). W ith re fe re n c e to th e l a t t e r p ro c e d u re , I ra is e d s p e c ific q u e stio n s w ith D r. A katsuka concerning b o th h is conduct and h is m o tiv a tio n . I was n o t more b lu n t th an i t seem ed n e c e s s a r y to b e , b u t I s t a t e d my v ie w s a n d l a i d down my r e q u i r e m e n t s . T h e r e a c t i o n to my l e t t e r , a s r e p r e s e n t e d i n D r . A k a t s u k a ' s r e p l y t o me a n d h i s s u b s e q u e n t d i s c u s s i o n w i t h C a r t e r , w h ic h was r e p o r t e d t o me f a i t h f u l l y , I b e l i e v e , was r e a s s u r i n g , and i t a p p e a r e d t o me t o b e w hat I s h o u ld h a v e e x p e c t e d I f my J a p a n e s e c o lle a g u e was r i g h t in h is ju d g m en t. (I r e f e r h e re to D r. Susuma H arashim a, P ro fe s s o r o f P re v e n tiv e M edicine (Head o f D ept) and P u b lic H e a lth in th e S chool o f M edicine, Kcio U n iv e rs ity Tokyo, v /ith whom I t a l k e d a t l e n g t h , i n G en ev a, i n M arch) I t is d if f ic u lt to gauge the v a lid ity and sig n ific a n c e of D r. A k a tsu k a 's a c tio n s and th e tilin g s th a t a re s a id ab o u t him .b y o th e r s , There i s no q u e stio n about c e rta in querks c f h is p e r s o n a l i t y , w h ic h make i t d i f f i c u l t f o r me to a p p r a is e h i s m o tiv a tio n . There are c h a ra c te ris tic s of th e g en eral s itu a tio n , in Ja p a n , how ever, w hich are so d if f e r e n t (o r so i t seem s) from th o s e w i t h w h ic h you a n d I - h a v e t o d e a l w i t h i n o u r own c o u n t r i e s , a s t o make me u n c e r t a i n a s to th e m e r i t s o r d e m e r it s o f h i s b e h a v i o r . I t seem s t o me h o w e v e r, d e s p i t e t h e s e u n c e r t a i n t i e s , t h a t he i s th e b e s t in fo rm e d man in J a p a n on th e s u b je c t o f te tr a e th y l le a d , and th e m anner o f g e ttin g I t in to g a s o lin e ; th a t he i s doing a good jo b , ' in f a c t, o f 'su p e rv isin g and sa fe g u a rd in g th e m en who a re e n g a g e d i n m ix in g o p e r a t i o n s . T h e s e az*e th e th in g s in h is fa v o r, a n d I h e s ita te to do an ything t h a t m ight . r e a c t to com prom ise th e s e b e n e f i t s . A g a in st th e s e f e a tu r e s o f t h e , s i t u a t i o n i s th e m an's c l e a r d e te r m in a tio n to be th e suprem e a u t h o r i t y in th e h a n d li n g 1o f t h i s p ro b le m , and n o t t o s h a re h i s know ledge of th e m a tte r w ith anyone, and h is g e n e ra l tendency to acq u ire a r b itr a r y and d i c t a t o r i a l powers* I t appears in a d d itio n , t h a t he i s m ot unm indful o f h is econom ic a d v a n ta g e . G e n e ra lly sp e a k in g , I would agree w ith you c o m p le te ly th a t D r. A k atsu k a' s p e rso n a l q u a litie s of am bition, a u th o rita ria n ism and s e lf - in te r e s t, are re p re h e n s ib le and U n d e sira b le . C e rta in ly as human c h a r a c te r - ` I s t i c s t h e y a r e i n t h e u n d e r s i r a b l e c a t e g o r y . On t h e o t h e r h a n d I c a n n o t t e l l how f a r t h e s e a p p a r e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s g o , o r w hat t h e y s i g n i f y . I t se em s l i k e l y t h a t J a p a n w i l l "go h e r own w ay, in th e n o t too d is ta n t fu tu re , in the m a tte r of th e m anufacture, d i s t r i b u t i o n and u s e o f t e t r a e t h y l l e a d . When t h a t tim e com es, D r. A k a ts u k a t s know ledge o f t h e s u b j e c t may p ro v e t o be o f th e 0010 Dr. P h ilip Boyd - (? ) - October 15, 1957 g re a te s t-u s e fu ln e s s , and even h is c ap a city to d ic ta te (not t o d i f f e r e n t i n p r i n c i p l e , b u t d i f f e r e n t , .1 h o p e , i n m e th o d , fro m my own e f f o r t s ) may be v a l u a b l e . I c a n n o t b e s u r e j u s t w h ere we a r e , and I c a n n o t a d v i s e y o u w h a t t o d o , w i t h any f e e l i n g o f c o m p e te n c e . My own a t t i t u d e , h o w e v e r, a t t h i s tim e, Is to l e t m atters take th e ir co u rse, w hile I m ain tain as c lo s e c o n ta c t w ith th e s i t u a t i o n , a t t h i s d is ta n c e , as may be p o ssib le. I have not* commented on a l l o f th e a s p e c ts o f th e m a tte r s re fe rre d to in your le t t e r s concerning Japan and D r. A katsuka, o r o th e r p la c e s and o th e r d o c to r s . As I, I n d ic a te d ab o v e, I s h a l l l e t you knew w h a t we do i n t h e m a t t e r o f c o n s u l t a n t s i n t h e a r e a s in w h ic h we a r e b o t h c o n c e r n e d . I s h o u ld t e l l y o u th a t th e m atter of the w ashing out o f drum s, w ith g a s o lin e , has . b e e n d i s c u s s e d . Wes do n o t c o n s i d e r th e w a sh in g p r o c e d u r e t o be m a n d a to r y , a n d i n d e e d , we c o n s i d e r t h a t t h e h a z a r d p r e s e n t e d b y a drum w hich c o n ta in s r e s id u a l g a s o lin e in a p p re c ia b le q u a n tity , i s a s e rio u s one in tr a n s p o r ta tio n . I f su ch g a so lin e i s unduly high in its ,le a d co n ten t, the hazard is thereby g re a tly in creased . Our p e o p le in th e f i e l d w i l l n o t make an is s u e o f t h i s . The p o in ts made on th e m a tte r in . th e DuPont l e t t e r ( a tta c h e d to y o u r 's o f J u ly 3 0 th ) were th o se o r ig in a lly s tr e s s e d i n c o n n e c tio n w ith th e procedure of w ishing. T heir v a lid ity a t p resen t is c e rta in ly open to q u e stio n . I agree however, th a t o th e r th in g s in th is l e t t e r w ere more s i g n i f i c a n t to us th a n i s t h i s m a tte r o f th e g a s o lin e w ash. The e n tir e f la v o r o f th e l e t t e r Is u n s a tis f a c to r y to me, and I w onder, of co u rse, w hether th is a r is e s 'o u t of the a ttitu d e o f DuPont or th a t o f D r. A katsuka, or a sy n th e sis of b o th . I ggree w ith you t h a t th e s e a re n o t m a tte rs in w hich D r. A katsuka should be concerned p rim a rily , but I cannot contend to o s tro n g ly , i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n , w i t h o u t k n o w in g who i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e s i t u a t i o n , in view o f th e f a c t , w ith w hich you are f a m ilia r . I am s u r e , t h a t I h a v e b e e n d e e p ly i n v o l v e d i n a l l s u c h m a t t e r s m y se lf, and o n ly in r e c e n t y e a rs have I tu rn e d them o v e r e s s e n t ia ll y (n o t e n t i r e l y ) t o Van F le c k , a n d th e n to h i s s u c c e s s o r H enry B a l l . E v en now , I am. a lw a y s c o n s u l t e d o n t h e s e m a t t e r s , a s I f e e l s u r e you are a lso , in A ssociated c o u n c ils .' W ith r e s p e c t'to one a d d itio n a l m a tte r .- th a t of th e g e n e ra l in v e s ti g a t i o n o f b ack g ro u n d p ro b le m s, th e s i t u a t i o n may be a lt e r e d somewhat by th e in v a sio n o f management in to th e f i e l d . T his may, o r may n o t i n t e r e s t you and y o u r group a t t h i s tim e . From th e a s p e c t o f le a d th e r e a re many th in g s t h a t can be d o n e. As I have i n d i c a t e d p r e v i o u s l y , t h e p r a c t i c a l p r o b le m t h a t a p p e a r s t o me o f g re a te s t s ig n ific a n c e , i s th a t o f th e com parative s itu a tio n in 3; B rita in w ith re sp e c t to the occurrence of lead in food and b ev erag es. T h is i s n o t an e x c itin g problem and i t may n o t have a s u f f i c i e n t a p p e a l f o r you. T here are s e v e ra l ways o f a tta c k upon i t , how ever, an d i f y o u s h o u ld d e c id e t o go a t i t , I c o u ld make some s u g g e s t i o n s I am c o n v in c e d t h a t som eone w i l l h a v e t o do t h i s s o m e tim e , and I f e e l su re th a t i t is w orth d o in g . A nother problem of s im ila r ,iilip Boyd - ( 8 ) - O ctober 15, 1957 o ch aracter, of course, is th e d is trib u tio n of le a d in the a tm o sp h ere o f G re a t B r i t a i n . T h is t o o , w i l l h av e t o be done some day. I f e ith e r o f th ese g e n e ra l problem s were to be a tta c k e d , th e factsccan cern in g b o th lead and m anganese, as w ell as c e rta in o th er m e ta ls , c o u ld be o b ta in e d a t th e same tim e w ith econom y. I t has a lw a y s seem ed t o me t o be a n e x tr a v a g a n c e t o go t o t h e g r e a t t r o u b l e and e f f o r t of o b ta in in g s u ita b le sam ples o f m a te ria ls re p re s e n ta tiv e o f th e g e n e ra l human e n v iro n m en t, and th e n to a n a ly se them f o r b u t one e le m e n t. P a r tic u la r ly , i s t h is tru e when such m ethods o f a n a ly s is a s t h e s p e c t r o g r a p h i c h a v e f a i r l y widLe a p p l i c a t i o n t o a n u m b er o f elem ents sim u lta n eo u sly . So m uch f o r m a t t e r s now i n c o r r e s p o n d e n c e . We h e a r d fro m y o u in d ir e c tly when our youngest g o d c h ild re tu rn e d from E ngland r e c e n tly , and re p o rte d on y our e f f o r t s as a h o st on h e r b e h a lf. A p p aren tly h e r summer was a g r e a t s u c c e s s , and she was d e lig h te d w ith y o u r h o s p i t a l i t y I t was g o o d o f y o u t o g iv e h e r a good t i m e , and I am s u r e t h a t y o u en jo y ed i t . She has a g re a t d e a l o f b o th charm and su b s ta n c e , and i s f a r a n d aw ay my f a v o u r i t e among t h e P o s h a v c l a n . And now t h i s l e t t e r h a s g o n e on f o r a v e ry lo n g tim e , an d h a s made some am ends, I h o p e , f o r my lo n g s i l e n c e . I t i s tim e t o g e t on t o o t h e r t h i n g s . I * d a p p r e c i a t e i t g r e a t l y i f y o u w o u ld c o n v e y my g r e e tin g s t o fifty B evan, B eery N o b le, C h a rlie R is s o - G ill, and o th e r s o f my v e r y g o o d f r i e n d s a t 20 B e r k e le y S q u a re * I t seem s b u t a s h o r t tim e sin ce I v is ite d you th e re , and y e t I re c o g n ize in term s of the c a l a n d a r t h a t m any m o n th s h a v e s p e d a lo n g s i n c e t h e n . L e t me h e a r from you when th e s p i r i t moves and tim e p e rm its , re g a rd le s s o f th e o c c a s i o n . And a g a i n , l e t me u r g e y o u n o t t o s p a r e me fro m y o u r m essages or q ie s tio n s , l e s t I should be overburdened by them . I may n o t re sp o n d p ro m p tly , b u t I s h a l l s u r e ly . - W ith b e s t re g a rd s , S in c e re ly yours,, RAK/sa R o b e r t A . K e h o e , M.D