Document vVXEDXynBpL6qx3RwnMRpvZnq

July 25, 1962 J- P. Curtis Dohan, M.D. 221 Maloney Clinic Building Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 36th and Spruce Streets Philadelphia 4, Pennsylvania Dear Doctor Dohan: There are no references, so far as I know, to the ingestion of tetraethyllead except ray initial article on the toxicology of this compound, which deals fairly lightly with the problem. There have been cases of poisoning in association with the accidental or intentional ingestion (I have the records from such cases, only two of which recovered), but so far as I know, there are no published accounts that are useful. As to the metabolism of the compound in the body, there are some publications (I send two reprints and give a few references), but the investigative work has not yielded too much definitive information. However, there is very little (probably none) decomposition of TEL in the intestinal tract, but a considerable^__ rr'u`portion of the compound undergoes decomposition to triethyl' compounds, and subsequently, it seems likely (but is hard to. lf ` prove) that it degrades further to diethyl compounds. Only \ ,f a small proportion of it ever breaks down completely to in- v _____ organic lead in the tissues, as can be concluded from the fact that very little is capable of being taken up - as are the inorganic compounds - in the erythrocytes. Accordingly, the concentration of lead in the blood remains low - often essentially unchanged - in tetraethyllead poisoning - evep fatal intoxication - although the lead in the urine is often remarkably high. The references which I would cite (no reprints are now &available) are as follows: Kchoe (Toxicity of TEL, etc.) J. Lab. Clin. Med. 12:554, 1927. same et al (Behavior of TEL) Am. J, Hyg. 13:478, 1931. Machie (TEL Poisoning - human cases) J.A.M.A. 105:578, 1935. Cremer, J. E, (Biochemical Studies - TEL) Brit. J. Industr. Med. 16:191, 1959. We are about to publish a paper on the comparative toxicity of tetraethyllead and tetramethyllead. It will appear in the A.M.A. Archives sometime in the autumn. Cordially yours. RAKwp Enclosure as stated Robert A. Kehoe, M.D.