Document emB9aZ60OpMyv61zYwvd7GZqE

Copy to Mr. Mittnacht December 10 19 3^ Dr* Herman Cowan 875 West End Avenue Hew York City Hew York Dear Dr* Cowan* Your letter of December l4.th Inquiring about the effects of tetraethyl lead upon the akin and addressed to the Ethyl ^asoline Corporation* has been referred to me for reply. I am not just sure in what aspect of the matter you are most interested, but so far as I know there is nothing in medical literature as to the specific effects of tetraethyl lead upon the skin* Observations have been published which show that tetraethyl lead I3 absorbed through the skin of experimental animals, and there are sufficient data to give a general idea of the speed of absorption as well a3 the fate of the compound after absorption* Unfortunately the article that we have published and which contains the moat information is now not available to me in the form of reprints,since my supply ha3 been exhausted. However, I can cite you the reference as follows:"The Behavior of Lead in the Animal Organism II Tetraethyl Lead" by Kehoe and Thaaann, In the American Journal of Hygiene - Vol* 13. p. J4.78 - 14.98 - March 1931. The only other article on the subject is my article "on the Toxicity of Tetraethyl Load and Inorganic Lead Salts",a copy of which I am sending you* When tetraethyl lead is applied to tho skin of animals or human beings, there is very little evidence of an Injurious reaction* There is a slight and transient hyperemia, and subsequently there Is likely to be a slight edema which does not persist for longer ' than twelve to twenty-four hours, leaving the skin without any apparent injury. The oil, tetraethyl, is apparently not irritating and It has.no corrosive effect, and when applied bo o n e fs own skin it does not produce any burning, itching, or other discomfort. I dare say it is for this reason that nothing has appeared in the literature on the subject of its effects upon the skin, for in so far as I k n o w n o one has observed any Injurious effects to the skin* '. : - :v' :" I f this does not answer your question and if there la any other Information which I can give you I wbull be, glad to have you write me further* Very truly yours. RAKIS :RoSert' AV' Kehoe ,' S.'l). i-'r - HE 00121 si. ,