Document rp0VkY80kYRNMnQrbzjgZz4QV

October 29 * 19^ Dr. Graham Edgar Ethyl Gasoline Corporation Chrysler Building New York, New York Dear Graham: After going over the correspondence and reports on the Army stove, it is our opinion that the matter should be investi gated further. We think it would be desirable to check the experimental results obtained at the Army Nodical School. In the work that they did, their experimental system was not balanced, and as you suggest it is improbable that all of the fumes were collected. To b convincing, their results should include accurate analysis of the amounts of lead in the gasoline and measurement of the total volume of air used to burn fuel. The amounts of lead in the filter and on the walls of the cracking tube should b determined at the conclusion of the experiment and the burners and piping should be rinsed to determine whether there has been any accumulation there. The amounts of lead from these last sources and from the fumes of the burned fuel should check within reasonable limits the amount present in the gasoline initially. If significant amounts of lead are found in the cracking tube after a short period of use, the experiment should be repeatedly rerun for as long as a month or so to determine whether or not any accumulations occur within the system. We should also be quite certain that the temperatures of th cracking tube ar such as to insure ooraplot# decomposition of tetraethyl lead. If any significant amounts of organic lead find their way into the filters, a potential hazard is created in th handling and disposal of them. Previous estimations based upon gasoline stoves using leaded fuel, indicated that a hazardous condition would occur if stoves were operated continually in poorly ventilated rooms. In the stove which we studied all of the load passed presumably through the burner. Since the essential difference between the Army stove and the conventional stove lies in the fact that in the Army stove there is a filter designed to prevent lead from passing through the burners, we feel that it would bo most desirable to have analytical data on some of these filters to determine just how efficiently they operate. then I called the Kirk and Blunt Company today with the idea of getting a stove, they informed, me that after they had filled their order of ,500 for the Army, subsequent contracts had been turned over to the iitewart-Aarner Company, at Indianap olis, who presumably are now manufacturing them, I believe, for us to get one of these stoves, authorization from the Army would be renuirsd. Can you arrange this for tis, or shall we communicate with them directly? There ere further one or two points to which Colonel Gentzkow's attention could be called with profit. First, from a toxicologic point of view, one may not compare lead that ,1s breathed with that taken in food. Inhaled lead is muen more dangerous than that which is swallowed. This is borne out by the observation that as little as 1.5 fag. load per 10 cu. m. of air is capable of producing intoxication when breathed by workmen over a long period of time. The now Federal tolerances of food on the other hand are more than twice ns groat as this amount and us far as we now know are within safe limits. Secondly, the Colonel's statement, item 2, under Conclusions, is in error in that he states that danger of lead poisoning exists from the absorption of tetraethyl load from gasoline applied to the skin. I think it is important that this second point be brought to his attention, for if those stoves find general use in the Army, which they probably will, some type of instructions or placard will pro bably accompany them and it is a possibility that some reference to the absorption of tetraethyl lead from gasoline will be put on to them. Wr*-ordially cc - Dr. Calingaert Willard iachle,'' Ail' ` October 29, 19^ Dr. Orabas Edgar Ethyl Gasoline Corporation Chrysler Building Mew York, Mew York Dear Graham After going over the correspondence and reports on the Array stove, it is our opinion that the matter should he investi gated further. Wo think it would he desirable to ofeeok the experimental results obtained at the Army 1'edioal School. 2n the work that they did, their experimental system was not balanced, and as you suggest it is improbable that all of the fumes wore collected. To bo convincing, their results should include accurate analysis of the amounts of load in the gasoline and measurement of th total volume of air used to burn fuel. The amounts of lead in the filter and on the walla of the cracking tube should be determined at the conclusion of the experiment and the burners und piping should be rinsed to determine whether there hoe boon ?iny accumulation there. The amounts of lead from these last sources and from the fumes of the burned fuel should check within reasonable limits the amount present in the gasoline Initially. If significant amounts of lead are found in the cracking tube after a short period of use, the experiment should be repeatedly rerun for as long as a m.onth or so to determine whether or not any accumulations occur within the system. Ae should also be quite certain that the temperatures of the cracking tube are such as to insure complete decomposition of tetraethyl lead. If any significant amounts of organic la&d find their way into the filters, a potential hazard is created in the handling and disposal of them. Previous estimations based upon gasoline stoves using leaded fuel, indicated that a hazardous condition would occur if stoves were operated continually in poorly ventilated rooms. In the stove which we studied all of the lead passed presumably through the burner, lince the essential difference between the Army stove and the conventional stove lies in th fact that in the Army stove there is a filter designed to prevent lead from passing through the burners, we feel that it would be most desirable to have analytical data on some of these filters to determine Just how efficiently they operate. UOi Grahusi Sdgor (2) October 23, 19*K> Then I called the Kirk and Blura Company today with the idea of -jetting a store, they informed ne that after they had filled their order of ,$00 for the artsy, subsequent contracts had boon turned over to the Gtewsrt-Warner Company, et Indianap olis, who presumably are now manufacturing the. I believe, for us to get one of these stoves, authorization from the Artsy would be required. Can you arrange this for urn, or shall we communicate with them directly? There ere further one or two points to which Colonel Gentzkow's attention could be called with profit. First, from a toxicologic point of view, one may not compare lead that Is breathed with that taken in food. Inhaled lead is muen core dangerous than that which is swallowed. This is borne out by the'observotion that as little as 1,5 mg, lead per 10 cu, ra, of air is capable of producing intoxication when breathed by workmen over a long period' of time. The new Federal tolerances of food, cn the other" hand are more than twice as great aa this amount and ua far 0.3 we now know are within safe Halts, Secondly, the Gcionol's statement, item 2, under Conclusions, is in error in that he states that danger of lead poisoning exists. from the absorption of tetraethyl lead from gasoline applied to the akin* I think it is important that this second point be brought to his attention, for if these stoves find general use in the Amy, -which they probably will, some type of lastructions or placard will pro bably accompany theia end it is a possibility that some reference to the absorption of tetraethyl lead frora gasoline will be put on to thei'i. Cordially, -G:: vr cc - Dr. Calingaert Aiilard <lachle'7"K'i "G. HE 0009549