Document mpJ96jzG2oqQZ6rp7gJwK7Mwk

STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH MALCOLM H. MERRILL. M.D. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH EDMUND G. BROWN GOVERNOR Dr. Robert Kehoe, Director Kettering Laboratory University of Cincinnati Eadon Avenue Cincinnati 19, Ohio 2131 BERKELEY WAY BERKELEY 4. CALIFORNIA September 16, I960 Dear Dr. Kehoe: personal and my associates' sincere thanks for the most helpful discussion by telephone yesterday. We are still trying to evaluate the actual public hazard which can be attributed to the materials we discussed with you. On the particular type of dishes under discussion food substances did very little leaching. Four-day cold exposures to 30cc's of /$> acetic acid leached 25 milli grams of lead; 30 cc's of applesauce leached 5 milligrams of lead; and 30cc's of tomato juice leached 4 hundredths of a milligram of lead (0.04 mg). Double dis tilled water leached no lead. Is it possible for you to tell us what kind of diet was used on the dishes which you discussed and tested, whether it was largely a matter of salads, whether hot beverages, tea, coffee, or others; whether lemonade and/or alcoholic beverages were used in this material, or in other ways can you describe for us the material eaten in such terms as to help us decide whether this was a usual or an unusual exposure. Can you state whether these dishes as used were kept with pieces of food on them in the refrigerator as storage vessels as well as meal time vessels. Vas a ]$(lpher part of the set or teapot or drinking mugs? We are anxious to protect the public but also not to unduly disturb a large section of population if not in actual danger. We are currently consulting with authorities here in California to try to achieve some adequate medical opinion of the risk to present owners. We would therefore appreciate your early reply. An air mai1 special delivery envelope is attached. Thank you again for all your help and for the prospective material you will endeavor to send us, both on the medical records and also your past experience with human absorptions from food placed on unsatisfactorily glazed dishes. Howard W. Mitchell, M.D., Chief Bureau of Occupational Health CE:J Sirjcerely^.yoursV f^ JLCC Christine Einert;- M.D. Medical Officer