Document ppO22mXdwqRYYQemnygYqqgVd

JOHN D. BRADLEY. P R E S ID E N T K. W. GREEN. V IC E P R E S ID E N T F. S. MULOCK. VICE P R E S ID E N T F. E. WORMSER, v i c e p r s i d e n t ROBERT LINDLEY ZIEGFELD. SECRETARY.TR EASURER 3Lft l a i i i s i m e s 60 EAST 42nd STREET N E W Y O R K 17,is?.Y. May 25, 1959 AIRMAIL - SPECIAL DELIVERY MANFRED BOWDITCH DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AN D SAFETY Dr. Robert A. Kehoe, Director Kettering Laboratory of Applied Physiology University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Eden Avenue Cincinnati 19, Ohio Dear Bob: With the hope that it will reach you before you leave for your appointments here on Wednesday, I am enclosing a copy of a letter from Mr. Lyman Hunter, Vice President of Bennettfs, a paint concern in Salt Lake City, and active in the affairs of the Federation of Paint and Varnish Production Clubs. This follows and amplifies a lengthy telephone conversation on the preceding Saturday, in which Mr. Hunter, a stranger to me, stressed the distinction between the Federation, an organisation of technical men, and the National Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association, which he described as composed of sales executives. From another source, I gathered that Bennett*s are pioneers in the production of colors in tubes, and that it is of prime importance to them to prove that lead chromate is relatively non toxic. Because of its relevance to the work of the A.S.A. Z66.1 and Z37 Lead Subcommittees, I am sending copies of the letter also to the members of those groups. MB:pg ends cc: Dr. Radtke Mr. Ziegfeld P.S. - - Since dictating the above, I have received from Anne Baetjer a letter of which a copy is also herewith. - Sif r"t.:J,- W ; if ,, *:, ' 'V '- lA h ' U d .Y..OGIHN.P* 5i> AHO 'S. TW [ M f A H S t i K t t k u f as t i l t r $ f w i s t f t nuv s e t t i TRffr ^ f A t r I a U cry Hj/ oi Ajf -. > ' ' * \ X''t,*t'*es ^ 1 I" _ V? '' rmanfre Bowdit % X /V-i*5 . A<7Lead I"ndustriers Association 60 Bast 42nd Street' . -. -w- - v a ,< -,...*, , `i - y. ^ V A a * is * r . fi ' 1*i ^ V New York City, II Y . M^ - 'jl & Dear M r . Bowditch: ' * 51 ' ! ' * : * **%*" I am certainly sorry that 1 did not have the opportunity to visit - with you when I was last in New York City. I am writing this letter, to confirm our telephone conversation and to add whatever thought8 ,'5 I may have had since on the subject. -V.< '' '\ *' :i 4 vA First, let me explain a little of the cause of our concern In this matter. We use between 200,000 and 250,000 pounds per year of chrome yellow and molybdate orange pigments. As far as the history of the matter is concerned, most of this is handled by one man. For at -least fifteen years we have had careful medical check-ups made of ' the man on this job, and we have never had a report of any adverse - ffacts through handling this material. 1- * ' - , - __ , r *- ; ; t r f * `* . v * v <i 5f , We ha'e been greetiy concerned with the situation that seems to be . developing in the Eastern part of the country. II there should be - ii a general application of ,.lead;lavs,,,that .would effectively eliminate the use of chrome yellows and molybdate oranges, this could be a very serious matter for us. The expense of changeover to an organic' " type of color pigaient would be a very, heavy one. In addition to this, <> we have been working on thinlproblemAofloeveral years, and we are'*- reasonably certain that'a shift to'organic typo color plgments'weul< not produce products as satisfactory as. those we are now making. However, all of these matters would be of very little consequence, if the type of legislation that is,,beginning to appear were justified.. This is a point of information that'we feel is very fussy and' sketchy- / at the present time, There may very well be historical evidence to, indicate that the old time paints made with a high lead content in. the form of basic carbonate white lead, and with a linseed oil bindej k*mm. hazardous.- The lead in basic/carbonate White lead is s-confide it -- N18577.01 '1 /- Mr. Manfred Bowditdh Page 2 May 15, 1959 pigments, 8*4 ft* other hand ' resistant to I -t' >< *- the ;ra;vfle9ri* J^fkoxielty as"ai;_. ... this p o in t lssea/co^ietly/<^rloked -in-i' 'jury investigation im.Fasialc Cotmiy^Maw.''Jersey. X eajiriofc feo coa^isief; sure on this point sine 1 have only a sumstary o f w h a t w e n t o a there/. in January i5. ;Many' of,?th@ statemente -`that..appear.in this susaryf ere such.that I cut. ^reetSirltJi ttiemvtbaplteXy;^ X ^uet,:^ "this Grand Jury l analysing the testimony of the expert witnesses /,, is convinced that, lead poisoning asi,,he^caused -fey;jMir-*a* 1well: as paint. The age of "the" paint "does :;not...increase}ife;:te^^ty|ts0S a 1fcam;.'>' A freshly painted '.window'ill' or stair'railii^ "or "any- ot^r'^ahyieet^^ which is accessible "to :tte""'cMldr^^:Whet^r" ^"tt ins.ide or the. outside of the 'hone"nay he dangerous if .'the 'paint.contains lead to :&n%|| excess of '1st*.../.'Certainly, the age of the ,paint might have very iittlfi if a n y 'influence 'on' the toxicity of,,the fila The real point'is t h a t ^ edera paiate arenade tm entirely^different fgaplittcfr.idtili g^Jl '' entirely difforoat. voliicls' than" those used',"thirty of forty These modern vehicles oould.-very|asiiy,ha^'a.very jra*t oa the- relative/toxicity ft,th ^Theie, 9tt3t$ ' " *" '* brought "oat piu^tlaf a ' l w i & e , y/fiot have, hewn epnsiaefced,^ hiving as I do so far away rom the Baster seoiiba of cannot I was very.-happy vt' hear that ;th bead -.industries'Assb<^atim'ha1 given sons' thoght ,to#the smtter of setting yip,a"progra'of study this subject, ' I hope* tha t t h e technical m n of, the 'paint industr/ .will..hay an opportunity^to;cotisuitJMth'year';organisation- oa this .`''natter.' .Also, 4 * 'spite of/the urgency-,,!."the;'wiitter,^l:w^l4 . -'"that such a program would not be set up teso rapidly. There shou :* sufficient tine for" careful'''consideration -and"deficition,of,.'.tm ,:pfhcd: problem itself, in'fact, X feel that one of the most importati .. of such a program would be definition of the prbi Another that should be avoided is the matter of drawing too many conni ^ .. ^ ** your enstesasrs must ultimately, in one way or ano ^ the bill. n# would also be.str ' ji#M:> ' ^ i - m i i p a an Investigation. With this in mind I aua taking the liberty of sug gesting the followings We have many men in the technical end o f the .i '~ paint industry who are well qualified with respect to education " ' ' experience, and knowledge of film forming materials. Give us an opportunity^vto consult with you and advise on this most important: ~ matter. Therej^ri11 be a committee of technical men appointed shortly.:; to study tills specific subject# and you will undoubtedly hear.'from^ * ''the head of" the Fedration about'this i n the near,.future "" ''-i ' ) /' ./. r - \ 1 ii X . y '' . . . -Tour truly,. " LPHs vo ri'- V"' BEKSETT'S - * . P P d `"C* -4-04-'VVWtrtA- " ' fi .' . > ' .`iiSsIt - Lyman P. Hunter W s M i% Vice President \ . .. k p-'-itPPMfe ' . ::