Document vBawp2vndKeyoDb6Bxvam1wgm

July,26, I93 Mr. J. C. Taylor Ethyl Gasoline Corporation Chrysler Building New York, New York ........ Attention Mr. 0. B. Lewis Dear Mr. Lewis - ' Referring to your letter of July 19, both Mr. Krick and Mr. Brown, Kendall Refining Company, Bradford, Pennsylvania have been in communication with us concern ing a case of alleged lead poisoning In Bradford. I am enclosing a copy of our letter to Mr. Brown which out lines our point of view on these cases. This is for your information. V.e note Mr, Blakeslee* s request and will write him in greater detail in reply to his question. I think it would be well to let Mr. Blakeslee become acquainted with the articles from this laboratory covering the experimental studies which were done on filling station attendants, garage men and the like. If you do not have copies of these articles, let us know and we will provide Mr. Blakeslee with them. Dr. Schradin visited the Kendall Refining Company and discussed the case of< with Mr. Brown's assistant. We have your memorandum of July 20 with excerpts from the letter^ of the safety representatives, I think that this is a Very good idea and in general should be extremely useful to the safety representatives. We should be careful I believe, that this information be limited to our own organization. We acknowledge reoeipt of your letters of July 20 and 21 referring to cases of alleged lead poisoning at Duncan, Oklahoma and Curtis Bay. We are also enclosing a copy of our letter to Mr. T. E. Eonan relative to the*contaminated well. Very truly yours, WEM:vr iiliard V. Hackle, 11. D. COPY fi ;AnfMMdlff- July 19, 193^ Mr. E, E. Brown, Superintendent Kendall Refining Company . .' Bradford, Pennsylvania .. Dear Hr. Brown: ' '' . / ,'' Hr. .Erick of the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation has advised us that your employee, 8 alleged to have received lead poisoning from the fumes of-Leaaea gasoline while employed in loading tank cars. / . At this laboratory we have investigated the potential hazard of the use and handling of leaded gasoline for a number of years in which tine we'have not only examined and studied a large number of workers who have had severe exposure to the gasoline, but also a great many cases in 'which the injury or illness of the patient has been attributed to the handling of leaded gasoline. In none were we able to find any evidence that work with'leaded gasoline produced poisoning or injury by virtue of the lead contained in the gasoline. The results of these examinations and studies have been reported to the United States Public Health Service. ' . Our opinion after years of study of this subject is that there is no danger of significant lead absorption as the result of the contact which occurs under ordinary conditions of handling and use of leaded gasoline. This opinion has been corroborated by the findings of the United States Public Health Service and of the British Ministry of Health, both of which agencies having independently investigated this question. It would seem therefore that the-claim of this case, that lead poisoning was acquired as a consequence of exposure to leaded gasoline in his daily work is unfounded; and moreover, in our opinion it is not possible for significant lead absorption to occur from the handling of leaded gasoline as it is carried out commercially today. Dr. Schradin of this laboratory will be in Pennsylvania this v/eek. Vie have asked him to call on you and discuss this case with you. If at that tine you think it advisable for him to examine this man, he will be glad to do so. Tery truly yours, WEM:vr Willard E. Machie, M. D. , N8125.01