Document pmxzNR8R7LRp77xxnnrmGO4R7

1 Ms-ai-per-BEP Te l e ph o n s n a t io n a l 2 3 2 6 BOX 6 8 0 B e n ja m in F r a n k l in S t a t io n W A SH IN GTO N , D. C . BRITISH MERCHANT SHIPPING MISSION Of f ic e o f t h e Br it is h Pe t r o l eu m Re pr e s e n t a t iv e IN THE U. S. A. February 4-th,194-3 Dr. Robert Kehoe, Kettering Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dear Dr. Eehoc, Your letter and enclosures regarding the use of leaded motor gasolin for cooking purposes raises an important and difficult problem. I quite agree with you that the use of such gasoline involves a definite health hazard not only from the lead in the products of combustion, but alsc because of the risk of absorption of lead tetra-ethyl through the skin of the men who would handle (and inevitably spill) the fuel. This leaves two alternatives open for consideration:(a) Employ some method of removing the lead tetra-ethyl from the fuel. (b) Use a leadless fuel for cooking purposes. Both alternatives involve very considerable difficulties so that the selection lies between two unattractive courses. A good deal of research has been done on adsorbtive filters for re moving lead tetra-ethyl but with what success I do not know, though the Ethyl Corp oration of course, can answer this. Actually, however, it would, I think involve such a large amount of equipment, including continual, replacements for exhausted filters, as regeneration is not a simple business, that it would not be a practicable proposition. The alternative is to organize the separate supply, transport and distribution of unleaded fuel (gasoline and/or kerosene according to the requirements of the stove). There are probably sufficient supplies of such fuel available in England, America and the Middle East from indigenous production; the serious problem of course, is th transportation (presumably in drums, which are scarce), segregation from leaded fuel and separate storage and handling. I can quite appreciate the weighty objections to this proposal, but at present I can see no better solution unless filtration has been developed to a much higher degree of effectiveness and simplicity than I believe to be the case. Yours very truly, N 7867 F.B. THOLE Technical Adviser.