Document mmnr224kQeQGqbX8jqBOQ6Lw4

Mr. Victor Byer* Safety Department, U. S. Ilavy Reserve Aviation Base# Hew Orleans , Louisiana. Dear Mr. Byer t Your letter of December 4, addressed to the Ethyl Corporation, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, concerning the harmful effects of lead in gasoline, has been referred to me for reply. Over a period of nine years since leaded gasoline first came on the market, my associates and I have investigated various phases of the hygienic questions raised by its use. Other investigations outside of this Laboratory have been carried out by the United States Public Health Service, by the British Ministry of Health, and on a lesser scale, by the health agencies of certain other countries. The results of all of these investigations have been exactly the same, in that no one has been able to find any evidence that the handling of leaded gasoline in the manner required for it3 use as a fuel in internal combustion engines, has had any harmful effect upon the persons so involved. Our initial studies reported in the Journal of Industrial Hygiene*nere concerned with the study of a rather large number of filling station attendants and garage mechanics whose exposure had continued over a period of years * These investigations repeated,at intervals over a period of years, failed to reveal any cases of lead poisoning, and more over, demonstrate clearly that the lead absorption associated with these occupations, was negligible. Our further studies carried out by somewhat more rigid and precise methods showed that it is not to be expected that any of these persons will develop lead poisoning, 3ince the lead exposure associated with their work is of negligible proportions. I am sending you a reprint of this later article, since it will serve to show the methods of study and the basis for present conclusions. A search of medical literature will serve to show you that there has never been a case of lead poisoning reported in connection with the handling of gasoline. In 1924, ll reported a series of cases associated with manufacturing operations, and somewhat later my associate. Dr. Machle, reviewed !th .whole subject and reported the cases which We had seen up to the time of this re- * 16, 100 (1934) Mae* . Yistop Byer - (2) - December 22, 19^2 port. A number of these had been poisoned as the result of cleaning gasoline storage tanks that had contained leaded godlike? 'By-.P^&oa .of' a, nus^ers'-df factors , the exposure In such tanks is of a totally different type and magnitude than that associated vith the handling of gasoline in introducih^ it ihto auttt&ob'ile^, airplanes, eteetepa. Aside fro this one problem which is handled by specific regulations, there Ls no lead hazard associated vith the handling of leaded gasoline as a motor fuel> so long as tho 1 cad content- of the gasoline does not exceed certain limits. Invest!gar,' ons up to the present have indicated that lead concentreticar up to snc. including 6 c.c. tetraethyl lead per American, gallon, are not dangerous. There is no Information on the concentrations above 6 c.c. However, we have done some experimental work with, higher concentrations of tetraethyl leod Lie rrsoline, and it is fair to say I believe, that lead conccntr-ccion'i in ex cess of 10 c.c. per liter (not per gallon}, would be dangerous. It is not at all likely that there would be any sound techni cal reason for raising the concentration above 6 c.c. per fjaerlean gallon, and therefore, it seems unlikely that any combination of circumstances would result in tho production of gasoline containing dangerous lead concentrations. I trust that this answers your question, but if you have other points in mind, please do not hesitate to write me directly, for I- shall be glad to send you any information that is available. "Very truly yours. KAH ef Ene. iiobert A. fierce, M'} D} Kfc 0020021