Document pEgqxQ3wVKorrB5jq8nkzjpw

HatMllrt CSTAtUSMCO *02 E. F. d u Po n t d e Ne mo u r s & Co mp a n y INCdftPOftATCO Wil min g t o n , De l a w a r e EMPLOYEE RELATIONS DEPARTMENT February 2, 1956 MR. DAVID H. CONKLIN DIRECTOR OF SALES PETROLEUM CHEMICALS DIVISION 7539 NEMOURS BUILDING Attached is a reoort on our trip to the West Coast. We feel that this trip has been valuable not so much for what we did but for the information we picked up and the impressions we gained. For instance, we feel that Du Pont should view with some concern the activities of Chandler Phillips, who is pointing the finger directly at lead as being one of the major irritating constituents of smog. If the activities of Mr. Phillips were limited to his Glendale area, there would be no cause for concern because he has gotten publicity only in the Glendale papers. What he has done, however, is to influence the thinking of legislative leaders and medical people who up until now apparently have been confused about tetraethyl lead and lead oxide since much of their information seems to come from Mr. Phillips. Because Mr. Phillips has been influencing people who are in a position to call for legislation against the use of leaded gasoline we feel that it is important that we furnish these people, either through the Western Oil and Gas Associa tion or directly, as much information as possible about tetra ethyl lead and its combustion products. We also feel that it is to our advantage to have and to develop more data to provide answers for any persons who might ask questions. SLR:BJB/hlg Attachment S. L. Rankin, M. Medical Advisor Petroleum Chemicals Division B. J. Burkett Public Relations BETTER THINGS FOR BETTER LIVING . . . THROUGH N22197 c RANKIN - BURKETT c WEST COAST VISIT - January 21-27 Persons visited: Lon Angeles January 23 Don Sweeney - Secretary, Air Pollution Control Committee, Western Oil and Gas Association. Dr. Rankin Brent Malin B. J. Burkett G. Tyler January 24 Morning Dr. Lauren B. Hitchcock - Director, Air Pollution Foundation. Rankin Malin Burkett Luncheon Jack Sembower Ty Scoggins Felix Chappellet Don Sweeney - West Coast Public Relations Mgr., Shell Oil Company. - Sembower's assistant. - General Manager. -Western Oil and Gas Association. Tyler Rankin Burkett Malin Afternoon P. S. Hagruder - Executive V. P. General Petroleum Corp. (chairman of Air Pollution Control Committee - Western Oil and Gas Association.) Tyler Rankin Malin Burkett K 001S130 N22197.01 cc Night Dr. Mac Pherson Dinner - Dr. Rankin - Dean of College of Medical Evangelists. (chairman of Scientific Ad visory Committee Air Pollu tion Control District.) Meeting of Scientific Advisory Committee Air Pollution Control District Dr. Rankin January 25 Morning Dr. Francis M. Pottenger, Jr. - Chairman of Air Pollution Committee, Los Angeles County Medical Society. Rankin Malin Burkett Afternoon Assemblyman - Thomas L. Rees - Member of Committee on 59th District Public Health, Tyler Rankin Burkett San Francisco - Berkeley January 26 John A. Maga - Chief, Bureau of Air Sanitation State Department of Public Health. Rankin Malin Burkett January 2? Morning Assemblyman - W. Byron Rumford 17th District Chairman of Committee on Public Health, Tyler Rankin Burkett HE 0018131 c Luncheon //. H. Claussen - Executive Secretary to Smoke and Fumes Committee, American Petroleum Institute (on leave of absence from Standard of California.) Don Sweeney Tyler Hankin Kalin Burkett HE 0019132 January 23 Don Sweeney 1 Western Oil and Gas Association Don Sweeney briefed us on the'general smog situation in Los Angeles and described the attitudes and opinions of some of the persons we would be contacting. He spotlighted the activities of Chandler Phillips, and said that he had requested the help of Ethyl in combatting these attacks. P. K. Director James E. Boudreau was supposed to have relayed this request to President E. L. Shea. According to Sweeney, Ethyl has submitted two long lists of questions to the Western Oil and Gas Association and hasn't been heard from since that time. Sweeney asked that we report to him our impressions after talking to the representative group he had set up for us to Interview. This group was chosen to reflect the opinions of medical, public health, scientific, and legislative people. January 24Morning Dr. Hitchcock - Air Pollution Foundation Dr. Hitchcock outlined the work of the Air Pollution Foundation. He isn't unduly concerned about lead (said that Air samples revealed 1.7 to 7 micrograms per cubic meter of air) or Chandler Phillips. Smog, in Dr. Hitchcock's opinion, is a national rather than a local problem, and some of the techniques used in evaluating Los Angeles smog might well be adapted to assist other areas with their smog problems. The foundation head said that aeroraetic surveys in the Los Angeles area had been discontinued because of lack of funds. The surveys had cost around $400,000, and would cost around $500,000 a year If carried out on a year-round basis. Dr. Hitchcock indicated that it was important that this activity be carried out on a continuing basis. He said that other groups are concerned with smog, but that in his opinion the only - KE 0019133 2C logical way of approaching the problem is first to find out what smog con sists of so it may be fought more effectively. Dr. Hitchcock said that he would give priority to the following projects: 1. Hydrocarbon control. 2. Nitrogen control. 3. Human exposure to exhaust gases in a chamber in effort to determine whether reduction in hydrocarbons would reduce lachrymator effects of smog. 4. Determine the human toleration level for smog so that researchers could then strive toward reducing it to that level. The one specific request made by Dr. Hitchcock was for Du Pont to furnish him with any information we may have on the chemistry of nitrogen. He said that he is anxious to learn how to convert, neutralize or decompose nitrous oxides, resulting from combustion. These oxides are ^ believed to be contributors to smog. It was suggested that the ammonia people in the Polychemicals Department may be able to supply such informa tion. According to Dr. Hitchcock, the Ethyl Corporation has been very helpful in supplying personnel and equipment to the foundation. While not soliciting money, he made it.clear that the foundation needs additional funds to carry out its extensive program. January 24 Lunch Sembower Sweeney Chappellet Scoggins At lunch, we discussed our Hitchcock visit with Sweeney, Sembower, Chappellet and Scoggins. At this time Sembower clarified his earlier request for a demonstration to show what smog is, how it is formed and what it consists of. He suggested that our sales promotion people could work up such a demonstration to be turned over to the Western Oil and Gas Association and said that Du Pont would not in any way be identl- fled with it. C u - 3- C Sembower's idea was that this demonstration consist of a relief type map of the Los Angeles basin enclosed in a container with an invers ion layer being moved up and down in the container. Miniatures of the various pollutant sources, such as a backyard incinerator and automobile exhaust, and a factory smokestacks', would emit smoke into the air above the layer. Don Sweeney and Felix Chappellet requested that Sweeney be furnished any information we might have on lead or additives.. If we have any information on exhaust gases, they of course would like to have that, but if not they are interested in Sweeney's being informed about lead so he will have the background Information to draw upon when asked questions. They made it clear that such Information would be for back ground information only and would not be identified with Du Pont unless we requested that it be. Sweeney and Chapoellet further requested that Sweeney be given permission to call us at any hour of the day or night to get an immediate answer on questions about lead and additives. It was agreed that George Tyler would first be contacted, and if Tyler thought it was necessary that Information be cleared and / or obtained in Wilmington, Sweeney would contact Burkett who would attempt to get information for him. Sweeney is trying to prepare himself to give hard and fast answers to those who point the finger at lead. January 24 Early afternoon Smog Movie We viewed a new movie called "A Report on Smog." This partially animated movie covers almost all aspects of the smog situation. George Tyler has requested that it be sent to Wilmington for viewing by Wilmington management. ' K 0019135 Afternoon P. S. Magruder 0 _4- , .. C Mr. Magruder discussed the oil Industry part In the general smog situation. He said that he felt the accusations being made by Chandler Phillips should be rebutted in some manner. One way would be for Dr. Rankin to grant a press interview on lead, he said. He also , ! thought it would be a good idea for Dr. Rankin to present a paper before | t a technical society, with reprints of the paper being.made available to | the Western Oil and Gas Association. Mr. Magruder seemed to be looking forward to an expected visit by Dr. Kehoe. January 24 Evening Dr. Mac Pherson Meeting of Scientific Advisory Committee At dinner with Dr. Mac Pherson, Dr. Rankin observed that Dr. Mac Pherson showed no undue concern about the harmful effects of lead in the atmosphere. During the meeting of the advisory committee, the general subject of smog was discussed for three and"a half hours, and Dr. Rankin felt that at no time was lead blamed for being a major factor in the smog situation. At that meeting, however, Mr. Griswold, director of the Air Pollution Control District, read an invitation from Chandler Phillips to debate with him on the lead aspects of smog. The committee decided not to accept. January 25 Morning Dr. Pottenger Dr. Pottenger gave the historical background of smog, highlighting the part medical societies have played in spearheading investigative programs. We got three main impressions from our conversation with Dr. Pottenger. 1. He looks upon smog as a definite health problem and desires the funds and facilities to prove it. ijg 0019136 c -52. He' is concerned as to the possible role lead might be playing in the "public health hazards of smog." 3. Peeling that smog is a public health hazard, he seems to want to create a public demand for legislation to minimize the hazard. Not having factual data to demonstrate to himself whether or not the use of leaded gasoline Is a health hazard, he seems to accept some of Chandler Phillips' accusations. To assist him in making up his mind about lead, he requested information from us. He also requested that Dr. Rankin write an article on lead for a medical journal. January 25 Afternoon Assemblyman Rees Assemblyman Rees was very concerned about the use of TEL in gasoline and seemed to look upon lead oxide and tetraethyl lead as one and the same. This misconception seems to be the result of implications being made by Chandler Phillips who has been using propaganda techniques with some degree of skill. Rees indicated that the citizenry had been requesting legislation to help solve the smog problem, and he said that in several instances people had mailed their credit cards back to oil companies because these companies market leaded gasoline. Dr. Rankin, in attempting to clear up any misconceptions Rees might have about tetraethyl lead and lead oxides, gave him the complete story on the manufacturing, blending, and the use of leaded gasoline. We requested that he not quote Dr. Rankin or Du Pont. When he indicated that he might like to use this information on a TV panel discussion show. Assemblyman Rees seemed very conscious of the political approach and seemed to be hungry for information. He quoted extensively from Chandler Phillips. * KZ 0018137 c San Francisco - Berkeley January 26 ^ Mr. Maga - 6- c We met with Mr. Maga alone because of the illness of Dr. Breslow, chief of the division of chronic diseases?of the state department of public health. Dr. Breslow had indicated to Dr. Rankin at the Tuesday night meeting that he was keenly interested in the public health problems of lead 'Vtj in the atmosphere. Maga reviewed the work of Dr. Kotin in Los Angeles on the rela tionship of smog and lung cancer. He also described the work on lung cancer and smog by Dr. Mills in Cincinnati. After reviewing the work being done, Maga Indicated the need for much more investigation before any conclusions can be drawn. . v-. v In talking about San Francisco, Maga said the area is becoming more and more smog conscious"?and that an air Dollution control district x has now been set up in that city. While San Francisco's smog problem is not expected to reach the proportion of that in Los Angeles, Mr. Maga pointed out that industry in this area Is only at the level of that in Los Angeles bacx in 19.47. He remarked that the San Joaquin valley has severe smog possibilities if and whenKthe area becomes heavily industrialized. Lead, he said, is not a particularly important problem at the moment. *% January 27 Morning Assemblyman Rumford * As a result of testimony by Chandler Phillips before Rumford's Committee on Public Health, Rumford seemed quite concerned about the use of leaded gasoline, and believed that leaded gasoline was Illegal in Pennsylvania. He said that Phillips' testimony and demonstration provide the only information he and his committee has on lead. Rumford invited Dr. Rankin to appear before the committee, but in lieu of a public appear ance suggested .that a letter be written telling about tetraethyl lead and #0018138 the difference in this product and the lead oxide emitted with exhaust gases. He too, had been lead to believe that the lead in the exhaust residue and TEL are identical. He said that while we had explained this to his satisfaction, he could not convince the committee without a written document to insert in the record. He asked whether or not we had con tacted other groups Interested in smog.. It was suggested that a copy of "Maintaining Hygiene in Tetra ethyl Lead Operations" be sent to Rumford. January 27 Lunch Sweeney Claussen Both Claussen and Sweeney seemed concerned about the reactions we had gotten from the people we had met and talked with. Sweeney asked what we thought about Dr. Rankin appearing before Rumford's Committee on Public Health, and we replied this definitely should not be done. Then, he suggested a letter from Dr. Rankin to the medical profession of a question and answer type covering TEL and its relationship to smog. He > said that either Du Pont or the Western Oil and Gas Association could distribute this letter to doctors. He said that the purpose of such a letter would be to reassure medical people and to give them answers for questions being asked by their patients. Sw3eney said that if we decided not to send a special medical letter, we might send the doctors copies of the letter prepared for Rumford's Committee. CONCLUSIONS: At the end of our visit, we met vd th George Tyler and Brent Malin, and we all agreed that the following conclusions could be reached. 1. We should cooperate to the fullest extent possible in furnish ing Information to those who have requested it. K 0019139 C -8- ^ 2. We should not take any direct action to rebut Phillips, but should keep ourselves as fully informed as possible. We should suppiV the Western Oil and Gas Association with rebuttal material where' possible. 3. In view of Phillips influence on legislative and medical people (both opinion leading groups) we should undertake or underwrite investigative work on the public health aspects of lead or products of its decomposition. One of the most important reasons for doing this is to enable Du Pont to make definite statements^on these controversial issues. 4. We should provide a demonstration on smog, what is is, how it is formed and where it comes^from. This will be for use by the Western Oil and Gas Association, and George Tyler would like to be consulted before anything of this nature is undertaken. SLR:BJB/hlg S. L. Rankin, M. D., Medical Director Petroleum Chemicals Division " B. J. Burkett Public Relations 0019140