Document oZz4Ld7vxBJKxow1r8R9NaOD

ILeaifl Igradtaisstei J. B, HAFFNER.PRE9IDENT J,M. BOWLBY,VICE PRESIDENT K.C. BROWNELL.VICE PRESIDENT J. A. MARTINO, VICE PRESIDENT ROBERT UNDLEY ZIEGFELD, SECRETARY-TREASURER 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE NEW YORK 17, IV. Y. MANFRED BOWDITCH DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY June 16, 1955 Robert A. Kehoe, M. D., Director Kettering Laboratory of Applied Physiology University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Eden Avenue Cincinnati 19, Ohio Dear Bobs Again referring to the matter of that proposed Australian legislation, I think you may be interested to note the letter from Leonard Greenburg of which a copy is herewith. It took the good Commissioner a little time to respond, but he certainly crashed through in good style when he got around to it. Sincerely, MB: M tfe 0014919 COPY The City of Mew York DEPARTMENT OF AIR POLKTIOH CONTROL 13' Park Row Hew York 38, H* Y* Mr. Manfred Rowditch Director of Health and Safety Lead Industries Association ii20 Lexington Avenue Hew York 17, Hew York June 15, 1955 Dear Manfreds I am in receipt of your letter of May loth enclosing a copy of a letter from Hr. Brian Taylor, Secretary of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters Proprietary Limited, concerning the attitude of the Australian Federation of Organizations of the Blind with reference to the use of lead in paints. As you know, for some seventeen years, I was Director of Industrial Hygiene and Safety Standards for the Hew fork State Department of Labor and for the past fifteen years, I was and still am, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness. In both of these activities, I have been deeply in terested in the effects of lead on the human organism, I am firmly of the belief that lead-containing paints should not be used for those articles of furniture with which infants and young children may come in con tact, for there are many' instances in which infants have chewed on paintjd articles and have become poisoned by the ingestion of lead, ever ana above this, I see ab solutely no reason and have no instances at hand to indicate that paints containing more than of lead should be banned in any country. I have never seen a ease of blindness brought about by the use of lead-contain ing paints in an adult, and in fact, the incidence of lead poisoning of any kind from paint in this country, is becoming more and more of a rarity. I would suggest that the Australian Federation of Organisations of the Blind at tempt to find actual cases of blindness brought about by the use of lead-containing paints, and I would venture to predict that, they will be unable to find such cases in their country, with the possible exception of some very rare instance, where other factors have played a leading role. Precautions, of course, must be exercised in those establishments where lead paints may be permitted to dry and be converted over to dust. The use of wet sanding pro cedures in the sand papering of leaded surfaces should, of course, be enforced. May I suggest that Mr. Brian Taylor bring this matter to the attention of the Australian Federation of Organizations of the Blind in an effort to nave their legis lation based on a more realistic and scientifically sound basis. /s/ Leonard Greenburg, M. D. KZ 0014320 Leonard Greenburg, M. D. Commissioner N18563.01