Document dpJZKkKarOM8KjvZrxgaNKDe

l i S f i A B S 0 I| 0 0 P A K T i in corporate in New Jersey) - 0- BSPORT OF THS IRVEST18ATXOBS f&BE SIT BBS. THOMPSON AHB SCB-OEKU^BSR AT H1 siHMB rotors n m a m m laboratories. mrszm, orno ' A m THE ' BSTTES STATES BREAU OB MXVSS LABORATORIES. PITTSBURGH, P. But o f Investigation* Hay XTtfe 4 18, 198*. K P 0005744 ! N 7412 lilll oI& F a Nw y (Incorporated lu Mf Jersey) m m m or m EmsTimoxs m ses. thqmfsox aud sohgeelebee AT THE OEiSBAIi HT08S RISBftf abobaosiss, &ATTOX, OHIO ilio m i m m statbs BMir f j m s L m j & m m i m , ?xmBex8B m. Bat# or Investigations i&y l?fch & lth, 1324. ram-&ggM> LEAB FOXSOKXXa OBJECT* K .u ,' f l l .| I o m 't* L> 1O0 O !O i the object of those inveotlgatione was- to determine (I) The extent? of poisoning already observed ano the synptoa. {2} the relative hasards to - (a) Tbs aanufactarera. (b) The nariceting an garage men. (} `Ihe ooaswsere an the general pabilo. (3) Tne iseens of prevention of poisoning;, (4) The effects of treatment. XMTOPACTtmg* At the Dayton -Laboratories the only Kaaufacturing process. cists of t!i* **1013 to tli ttra~ethyl chloride of load* prepared chiefly by the Dupont Coapany, of t U quaaUfcy of bromine and a red distinguishing aniline pigment known as *&udaa Red*. Neither of these two added substances appears to be a factor in the poisoning for the reason that all toxic symptoms have also been observed previous to their addition* This product is put into containers for distribution to the filling stations, Poisoning occurs among m m employed in this process. In the past they apparently were exposed in varying degrees to direct contact with ethyl lead. On of the sen who died 1 said to have frequently had his clothes wet with it. it appears that the risk of poisoning Is of a two-fold source firstfrom direct contact of ethyl lead with the skin and, second from inhalation of the vapor t Contact appears to be fey.far the most important factor, IMTaKSlTY OF THE ?0IRONIES s All the soluble lead combinations have long been known by chemists to b highly toxic, but the extreme toxicity of ethyl lead was at first not fully appreciated fey the manufacturers of this compound, i Although all employees were warned against the danger of wetting the skin with this substance, they were careless in taking adequate precautions. Quite recently, however, this great danger is better appreciated, by all and ore rigid rules-are feeing- enforced. It has been found that glove* of all kinds, rubber, canvas, leather, etc* afford no protection as they are eaten through by the product. Ethyl lead being an' oily substance it readily penetrates the skin upon brief .contact, Wr, Mldgley, the Director of the process* stated that he had himself had mild toxic syoptosts from a single brief Immersion of the hands in the lead fluid although he at once washed the. It becomes therefore imperative that the fluid shall under no circumstances fee allowed to come in contact with any part of the body 0005746 amrftee* Should this by accident oeeur It act be washes off immediately with soap sad water or a neutralieing solatiaa. A rabbit whose this skinned ears were palates with ethyl less died of poisoning within twelve hoars. This Is analogous to the proaptness with which certain nitrites and anilines are absorbed, causing toxic symptoms. Further*, acre, sane degree of poisoning nay occur through inhalation of the ethyl lead vapor. Dr. McCann, physician to the Dayton patients, stated that after sitting for half an hour in the room where the cans were being filled from a pipe which lead to a email opening in them admitting of spattering, he had a fall in blood pressure of some twenty points below normal, although none of the fluid had touched him. SYXFTOHSi / The symptoms of ethyl lead poisoning re definite and. unique end from the medics! viewpoint extremely Interesting for they are not observed as a whole with any other known, poison, but combine the symptoms of several types of poisoning. All of the forty persons who have taken part in the filling process in Dayton are said to have suffered in varying degree from poisoning.' The first symptoms observed are a marked fall in blood pressure sometime as low as sixty points below normal. There is an accompanying fall in body temperature which has been recorded as low a94.6 degrees Fahrenheit or four degrees below normal. The heart action is slowed, the pulse having dropped in one case as low as $8, that is, twelve or more counts below normal. There is at first some digestive disturbance, such as loss of appetite, vomiting and a tendency to looseness of the bowels. Vertigo may be present. The red blood corpuscles show marked changes in size and shape. The blood la as of the fatal eases failed entirely to coagulate and at autopsy showed as unusual solar sueh as is observed la monoxide poisoning* There is bo cyanosis tad ao shortness of breath, aor Is headache or other psln complained of. The urine remains normal usually but la one ease reported treated by Dr* Alb at Harvard lead was preseat in it. Following these symptom in severe oases other phenomena appear Indicative of profound cerebral disturbance. The victim suffers from persistent Insomnia and becomes delusional, extraordinarily restless and talkative. His gait Is staggering, like that of a drunken aw* but there is no paralysis and convulsions do not appear. There is exaggerated moveaeat of all the muscles of the body accompanied by perspiration and the patient finally becomes violently maniacal, shouting loudly, leaping out.of bed, attempting to smash furniture or windows and behaving like a violent case of delirium tremens. Morphine only accentuates the symptoms* The victim may finally die In exhaustion. One men smashed a window and cut his hand badly. H* had delusions of vision, seeing imaginary groups of persons, and accusing the Seats* of trying to out him up* Another man aw the wall paper converted into swarms of moving flies and thought picture of his family on the walls were alive and moving about. Of the two fatal cases the body temperature in one patient rose to 110 degrees 4st before death. Both these m n had been at work only five weeks. The elder, $3 years of age, was not very vigorous, originally having a chronle fibroid condition of the lungs. The younger an was of fine physique. Dr.- McCann, who has had a very extensive general practice, stated that he never in his life had seen anyone die in such agony as these two men as he said ''they 2 died yelling*. One aen had to fee strapped in feed fey an expert 4 accustomed to restraining the insane* 3 As in nearly all poisonings of industrial origin con i siderable personal idiosyncrasy say exist as to bodily resistance. .? Many of the workmen shoeing only slight symptoms have continued at work. In other ease suite narked symptom have developed within from three to six hours. In one ease the blood pressure dropped in only three and a half hours after beginning work - from 190 to 112 a fall commensurate with that which occurs in excessive hemorrhage* Convalescence from the sever* symptoms is quite protracted and .may occupy from six to ten weeks. TRKATa&MTt Treatment in severe eases avails little. One of the fatal cases received blood transfusion but without benefit. Sedative are of litels value. Morphine stakes matters worse, Bromides and hyoseln have been tried. Alkalies* such as soda and magnesia* are given to counteract supposed acidosis and elimination is favored with magnesium sulphate. Future experience may develop more successful treatment. In the mild cate the only treatment followed has been the removal of cases from exposure and abundant air and sunlight. . m m m Q m m m %kha8St * Some five months ago the -General Motors Chemical Company arranged that the B. 8 Bureau of Mines in Pittsburgh should make a scientific experimental study of the effect of inhalation of the exhaust gases from gasoline mixed with ethyl lead. We visited the laboratories of the Bureau on May 18 th, 1924* upon our return from Cayton* conferred with Mr* W* P. rant* the expert in charge of the KfT Unu>-<v'Ok ^>4^ Wftilli' study under direction of Hr. A. 0, Fielder, and with hi inspected all the a&taal* under experimentation these animals included monkeys, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits All were found in perfect health, none having exhibited any symptoms whatever even after exposures of three and six hour periods dally for five months Other animals had been purposely hilled after exposure and autopsy showed no lead In any of their organs There were no blood changes dis coverable in any of the animals. The lead fro the exhaust Is discharged mainly as a chloride Under ordinary conditions the carbon monoxide given off from the exhaust and derived from the gasoline of the mixture used amounted to T& of the total exhaust. In order to eliminate possible evil effects of carbon monoxide, however, this percentage was reduced fey one-half and a proportionate increase in the ethyl lead was made. Thus an increased proportion of ethyl lead-'as added, so as to make . zhe experiments doubly conclusive. By this adjustment the lead measured 016 milligrams per cubic ft. of the total exhaust gases. lead chloride, moreover, is not especially toxic as com pared with tstra-sthyl lead. Furthermore, m & of the lead discharged is deposited in the muffler and exhaust pipe.. _ It was an amusing Incident that a setter bitch who was ancients was delivered while actually in the experimental cage of six lusty pups who with their devoted parent have all continued to share in the daily treatment with the exhaust and the entire offspring has thriven upon it. The final report upon the results 'of these experiments Is not quite ready as they have another month to run. ; K 00C5750 On February 2k%&, 192b, trot- Yasdell Menders, the distinguished physiologist of Yale University sad a etmsultant for the new Hudson Tunnel made a statement which by reason of his broadeasting it through The Hew York Times deserves comment here. In it he asserts (see Exhibits "A"* and *&"} that there is Imminent denser of universal lead poisoning of the public through inhalation of the lead oxide ( S i c ) give off 1 the exhaust where ethyl lead has been consumed and that such inhalation "will very probably occur in appreciable degree among all persons using or living on or having places of business on congested streets5*. Such, absurd inaccurate and utterly unfounded public statements are. likely to cause alarm In serious degree. In the first place it is sot "lead oxide*' which is given off but lead chloride and a for the rest of the- statements they are sufficiently controverted by the researches of the U. S. Qovernmsnt Laboratories above described. comwBiomt Although tetra-ethyl lead is exceedingly poisonous we believe that with proper precautions continuously enforced, the risk to the manufacturers from ethyl lead poisoning may be reduced : to a minimum no greater than that which obtains in dealing with other strong poisons, such as betucol or anilines, or the high explosive The potential hasard'to the marketing men is considerably lower than that of the manufacturers. There is, however, a possibility of poisoning, especially of the chronic type. Proper precautions along the lines suggested by Hr. Mldgley should reduce this hazard, but the question deserves further study. K- 00C5T51 We believe that there is no special hasard for the garage wen, chauffeurs or general public from exhaust products of ethyl lead. We are unable at the present tine* through lack of any experimental or other data* to sake a positive statement as to potential danger to the consumer who might handle, for any purpose, ethyl lead diluted with gasoline in the present standard extreme dilution of one to a thousand.. While on the one hand this new product has now teen . distributed for more than a year la rapidly Increasing quantity until it is being supplied to more than 10,000 filling stations and no poisoning has been reported, yet, on the other hand, the symptoms of poisoning by this agent are as yet almost wholly unknown to physicians and symptoms of mild poisoning might easily pass unrecognised or be attributed to other sources* We further are unable to state whether after long continued exposure to quit minute doses of ethyl lead symptom* might not develop ultimately akin to those of ordinary lead poisoning 4ust as a painter may escape lead poisoning for a number of year and then rather suddenly develop it, . .................. *m m HI ,| II ii Timi iiiwi j i n . * " . *; - .. . In vitl of the present lack of scientific experimental data regarding any possible danger to the consumer coming in contact with gasoline treated with tetra-ethyl lead, we suggest the desirability of arranging with the ft. S. Bureau of Mimes to conduct a series of experiments, similar to those already made with the exhaust gas, of ethyl lead. Such experiments conducted by so impartial a source as l{ OGC5752 the Government Enreau rettici he e*treely useful for refuting ignorant and alarais* assertions which eight possibly fee a.gHe to the proper exploiting of this highly useful promt. Respectfully submitted. ECB. May 19 th, 1924. TB&iiPgJgf _*... SCHOBIilBBan Asst..Meiehi iir'tori 0005753 r t SBBEMBE..5I*, Laboratory of Applied Physiology Yale Dniversity Mew Haven, Coon Feb. 29* 192*. EDITOR OF THE TIMES t Ob of the largest automobile Interests is now advertising and Introducing quite widely a lead compound (fcetraethyl lead with the trade name *ethyl gas*) which tends* when added to gasoline* to prevent back firing and "knocking" and to cause a smoother and better plosion in the cylinders* (It was described in an article on "Motor Cara of 1924*, in the Sew York Times of Sunday* January &, 1924). The amount which needs to be added to gasoline to obtain this good offset ia very small1 but lead compounds, of this typo are toxic even in very small amounts Lead poisoning is one of the beet known end one of the most serious induetrial health hazards* as for instance among painters and typesetter* Reasoning from what is already known it 1 a fairly safe prediction that in any garage where the cars use this leaded gasoline many of the sen employed will develop lead poisoning* unless effective measures are taken to prevent the inhalation both of the unburned gas and of the exhaust*. Sven if part .'of'the/lead"ticks in the muffler* the dust in the air in suoh garages must contain appro* elable quantities of lead oxide* If the usa of this leaded gasoline becomes common the inhalation of lead oxide will very probably occur in appreciable degree among all persons using* or living on* or having places of business on congested streets. R g 00C5754 c 0 ? t This new hazard 111 be sore important in streets and garages than In the Hudson Hiver tunnel One 111 pass through the tunnel quickly, but during the hours in the streets lead 111 accumulate in the body, until after weeks or months Its effects develop* It is the saving grace of carbon monoxide that It Is not a cumulative poison* T m body throes off the substance as easily as it absorbs it* lead on the contrary is the most perfect example of a substance which may accumulate little by little over long periods of time until a toxic amount is reached. {Signed) Yaaaell Henderson 4pw* -.. /VK K'H" 0C57D5 c 0 f. mmmxt m m h i, 192k. I enclose ft eomattmicatien which 1 a sending to the hew York Times, la which 1 take occasion, incidentally, to call public attention to the fact that substances Ilka teasel, and particularly a lead compound, are being mixed with gasoline* 1 have net quite told the whole story of my relation to the matter of lead* The deneral Motor Msearch Corporation consultea me, two year ago* on. the health hassrd involved and X told the that In sty judgment widespread lead poisoning was almost certain to result* disregarding this advice, they have gone on with the development until tetra-etkyl lead Is feeing introduced quite widely* i have learned privately that &&m of the research chemists who participated is this development were severely poisoned with lead and I have heard quite recently fro r, Alice Hamilton that the factory which is manufacturing the lead-ethyl has had a regular outbreak of acute maniacal lead poisoning among the workers* So b # of mf Information is confidential, and perhaps my personal opinion regarding this natter takes too alarming a view. In case, however, the Public Health. Committee of the Academy of Medicine desires to inquire into the matter, there is ample . ground in the statement published in the Hew York Times of January oth, automobile section, page 2, "Motor Cars of Ipat*, by U* A* Tarrnfeoua* The particular words used are as follows? *The deaeral Haters Bssearsh.Corporation has developed betra-ethyl lead# a- liquid'which when mixed in sisal1 quantities with gasoline makes a. carbonised engine operate with out a knock* In three States# at least,- the motorists een obtain gasoline already mixed with this material from the gas vendor* It is called ethyl gas**1 ,, .{Signed} t&ndell Henderson Jpw. 00G5756 N 7412.02