Document gbQ4LYKXLx0b6o36ONDYxb4nQ

Lead Industries Association, Inc. 292 Madison Avenue * New York, N. Y. 10017 Telephone: (212) 679-6020 a J. PARKINSON / June 9', 1970 o S' SUBJECTS BULLETIN NO. 8 - LEAD IN GASOLINE, the SITUATION IN JAPAN AND THE UNITED KINGDOM TOs ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION, INC. There has been considerable publicity in the Japanese newspapers and subsequently reported in the American press that Tokyo residents living and working within 70 meters of a heavily traveled intersection are "becoming chronic lead poisoning patients. The source of the lead is attributed to automobile exhausts. LIA is investigating this situation. The preliminary medi cal data available to us are highly suspect. LIA is awaiting a complete medical report. In any event, it has been confirmed that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), as of July 1, 1970, is limiting lead to no more than l.lcc per gallon of regular gasoline. No word yet on premium gasoline. The current average of lead in "high octane" gasoline is 2.2 cc. per gallon. We have also received word that MITI will require "that from July 1 the octane value for high octane gasoline be fixed at 97 and at 90 for regular gasoline. As a long range step MITI announced it intends to require the com plete elimination of lead from gasoline within 5 years." LIA is working closely with the New York representatives of the Japanese lead companies involved. Interestingly enough in the United Kingdom a Government report states "31. Today's petrol engines are designed to burn fuel containing lead, and future engines would have to be re-designed if lead were to be eliminated. Lead is a well-known poison, but the amount that is emitted from motor vehicle exhausts is, in this country, trivial. The air in the most congested street contains far less lead for people to breathe than is safely permitted inside factories. There is no evidence that cars add significantly to the lead which occurs naturally in the soil or in the vegetable food we eat. The Government will nevertheless continue to keep this matter under review." This paragraph is taken from the report PNYC00001160 N10151 -2- June 9, 1970 "The Protection of the Environment - The Fight Against Pollution" presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Local Govern ment and Regional Planning, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales by Command of Her Majesty May 1970. Copies of the report are available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, England 3s. Od. (15p) net. Further reports will be sent to you as the situation develops. Sincerely, JLK:so J. L. Kimberley / Executive Vice President PNYCC0001161