Document e5RQrqrOX8J0GB2K6kp72L59e

Xeatd! SIMON D. STRAUSS. PRESIDENT ROBERT HENDRICKS. VICE PRESIDENT JOHN METCALFE, VICE PRESlOENT H. J. WHITSON, VICE PRESlOENT ROBERT L1NOLET ZIEGFELD EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ANO TREASURER DAVID M. BORCINA SECRETARY ANO ASSISTANT TREASURER Assorfiitliiii,]^. 292 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK. N. Y. 10017 AREA CODE 212 OR 9-6020 DON G. FOWLER DIRECTOR OF HEALTH ANO SAFETY January 28, 1966 Robert A. Kehoe, M.D. Kettering Laboratory University of Cincinnati College of Medicine - Eden Avenue Cincinnati 19, Ohio Dear Dr. Kehoe: Don Fowler has asked me to send you for your review the enclosed copies of correspondence relating to the ASTM test C 555-64-T for,the Deter mination of Lead Extracted from Glazed Ceramic Surfaces. /> Inasmuch as this test method is based largely upon work done at the Kettering Institute, we will appreciate your writing to Mr. Harry Raybin of the New York City Health Department and providing him with any additional information you feel may be applicable. His address is . as follows: Mr. Harry Raybin New York City Health Department 125 Worth Street New York 13, New York Since it is expected that a final decision will be made on this matter within the next few weeks, if you agree we will appreciate your com municating with him at your earliest convenience. Very truly yours, p.. /' -7i (V~ . ) * James C. Roumas Assistant Director Health and Safety -O. JCR:sw enclosure N22052 January 20, 1966 Mr. Edwin Ludewig Acting Assistant Commissioner Environmental Sanitation Department of Health The City of New York 125 Worth Street New York 13, New York Dear Mr. Ludewig: This refers to Mr. W. C. Mohr's letter to you dated January 6, 1966 concerning the ASTM test C555-64-T for the Determination of Lead Extracted from Glazed Ceramic Surfaces. We are currently using this test in work co-sponsored by the International Lead Zinc Research Organization and the U. S. Potters Association. Mr. Don Fowler of the Lead Industries Association was responsible for initiating this re search and the earlier work at The Kettering Laboratory, Department of Preventative Medicine and Industrial Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati. You may want to discuss this with Mr. Don Fowler (212-679-6020). The following commercial laboratory is set up to run the ASTM test on glazed cup samples: Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory 850 Poplar Street Pittsburgh 20, Pennsylvania Attention: Mr. William Walters All the work to date has shown conclusively that the properly designed and processed lead glaze presents no problem in respect to lead release which concurs with what you stated in your letter. The domestic dinnerware producers have been aware of this for many years and have taken the necessary steps to insure the high acid resistance of the lead glazes used. Our current research here includes preparing a manual, which can be distributed widely throughout the world, and which will instruct on composition and production parameters to attain high acid resistant glazes. Sincerely, SCHOOL OF CERAMICS JHK/msr John H. Koenig Director N22052.01 P. S. Your letter to me of January 13th came after I had written this letter. \ The only British test I know about is the so-called Thorpe Test. However, this test was concerned with the solubility of the lead compound or lead frit in powder form as intro duced into the glaze batch in the plant. It was not a test of lead release from the fired or finished glaze surface. + ( \r. / v 'V. > \ K' ) 0 4a rD 7J c a-iu w 129 WORTH STREET NEW YORK IS, H. Y. THE CITY Or NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH I-- December 31# 19&5 TIL WOWTH 4*tlOO Vfv* i'll e TnaT# \J0 iWiUa lVUy * Ferro Corp. Refractory Division Product Development laboratory ' Cooksville, Ohio Dear Mr. Mohr: As chairman of the ASTM Committee C-21 on Ceramic Whitewares and Related Products we are seeking your advice on a matter that in our opinion is of considerable public health importance. We recently had occasion to embargo some crockery imported from Japan due to the fact that the pigment, which contained lead, on the interior of the mug was soluble in dilute organic acid3,, As a matter of fact when the interior of the mug was filled with 4 per cent acetic acid and left to stand overnight for 12 hours the entire pigment was removed and analysis disclosed that it contained as much as 43 mg. lead per square inch, or a total of 723 mg. I am sure you^ll egree that this is excessive and we are now confronted with the question as to what standard we should set, 7 We feel that it might not be practical to require that only, lead-free pigments be used as this might be a hardship on manufacturers. Furthermore, we are aware that if the crockery is properly processed so that the glaze is extremely hard none of the pigment will dissolve out* We have therefore concluded that the most practical standard that might be employed would be one that relates to the maximum amount of lead or other toxic chemical that would be dissolved out after the mug or crockery is exposed to 4 per cent acetic acid for a total of "X" hours at a temperature of "X1? degrees. We would appreciate it if you would advise us if in your opinion this is the best approach. We would also appreciate your expert opinion as to the maximum amount of lead that should be permitted to be N22052.02 I 04533 Mr. W. C. Mohr -2- December 31 1965 extracted if this formula were used and the temporature of the A per cent acetic acid that you would deem most advisable. If you have any oth'.r suggestions they would be most welcome. In view of the fact that the crockery industry is awaiting ojir final decision within the next few weeks we would appreciate a reasonably prompt answer*. Very truly yours. Edwin Ludewig- 7 Acting Assistant Commissioner Environmental Sanitation c.c :.__D r.-John" Etris Perkins Poland Mohr 43731 xxsoc (614) 982-2070 January 6, 1966 Mr. Edwin Ludewig Acting Assistant Commissioner Environmental Sanitation Department of Health The City of New York 125 Worth Street New York 13, New York Dear Mr. tLudewig: I am most pleased to be able to tell you that A.S.T.M. Committee C-21 has a tentative method of test for the Determination of Lead Extracted from Glazed Ceramic Surfaces; this test method carries A.S.T.M, designation C 555-64-T. This test method was developed in an swer to a problem, very similar to yours, which occurred in California some years ago. This test method is based largely upon work done at the Kettering Institute under the sponsorship of the U. S. Potters' Asso ciation. By carbon copy of this letter to Dr. John H. Koenig of the School of Ceramics at Rutgers University, I am asking Dr. Koenig to supply you with the names of those at Kettering Institute who are active on this project. I do this, because I am unable personally to tell you the maximum amount of lead that should be permitted to be extracted without creating a dangerous situation for the users of the crockery. I believe that the British have a standard which states the maximum amount of lead release allowable;.per- . haps Dr. Koenig will be able to give you some information on this standard * also. , A copy of A.S.T.M. Test C 555-64-T may be obtained from A.S.T.M. headquarters. By carbon copy of this letter to Mr. Sam Etris of A.S.T.M., I am informing that organization of your interest. If, in a reasonable time, you do not obtain a suitable answer to your problem, please do not hesitate to contact me.again. Very truly yours, ; N22052.03 WCM:aml * . William C. Mohr q Chairman, . . : A.S.T.M. Committee C-21