Document zQBjZ8DnG76kZ3wgvbOXokQw3

St o n e r -Mu d g e , In c . GRAN T B UILD ING P ITT SB URGH, P A. November 13, 1934. Mr. Robert K. Kehoe, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. . Dear Mr. Nehoe; '."e are writing you at the suggestion of Mr, William P. Yandt, of the bureau of Mines, in Pittsburgh. We have been in touch with Mr. Tjandt on the more or less academic question of whether a small content of lead monoxide would be detrimental to health when present in enamels used for the interior of food container caps. It is Mr. Yandt's opinion that the amount of lead present would not be considered a hazard due to the fact that it is present in extremely small quantities and is, furthermore, ground into the vehicle, whiclj happens to be Vinyloid resin. Each particle of lead monoxide is apparently surrounded by the resin because an iron cup may be cos.ted with a clear solution of the resin and this may be subjected to the action of acid solutions without any attack on the lead. The actual amount of lead present in - let us say, the coating on a 2" diameter tin cap would be between one and one and a half mil]igrams!* It is my impression that the human body can assimilate one milligram of a lead compound per day without detrimental affects on the health The 1ead in this coating is, of course, not in aniassimilable con ditio n, and even if it were, it is entirely surrounded by an insoluble vehicle which is not affected by acid and alkali attack. If it wa s thought that there would be any danger to the health from the use of this enamel in this respect, a coat of clear resin could be depos ited on top of the enamel as still further precaution against conta ct of the lead with food. We might mention also that the pigment in this enamel would be titanium dioxide in the proportion of about twelve of this pigment to one of lead monoxide. The amount of lead present, therefore, in a given area of film is extremely small. N 6323 Hr. Robert 3. Kehoe 2 November* 13, 1934. __ i ' iir. Yandt felt that you would be willing to give us your opinion in this matter. Yours ve ry t r u l y , STONER-MUDGE, INC. F R S jJIC F. R. Stoner, Jr., President r i Hoveraber 20 193^ '' . Mr* F* R* Stoner Jr* Stonor-^lfudge, Ino# Grant Building Pitts.burgh Pa# Dear Mr# Stoneri *. X believe it would be possible for me to give an opinion on the questions raised in your letter of Hovember ljfch if you would give me a little more information* X should like to know a bit more about the composition of the material in question especially with regard to its lead content# For this purpose it would be necessary to know the upper and lower limits of the lead concentration# If there is available any other information as to the observed effect of acid solution etc# on the material I should like to have the data# ? In the second paragraph of your letter you state that it is your understanding that the human body can assimilate approximately one milligram of a lead compound per day without detrimental effects# I helleve this is an extremely questionable statement for it is my opinion that lead poisoning is very likely to develop in a certain percentage of Individuals who absorb lead in these quantities# The average lead ingestion under conditions of modern American life is now approximately 0*25 mgs# per day# Most of this IS a not absorbed# However, If an additional milligram per day were to be added to this and if there were any promise of the actual absorption of a considerable proportion of this in ray opinion it would represent a serious haeard.s Obviously the degree of danger would depend upon the actual amount taken in and more particularly the proportion absorbed into the tissues# There is a very definite suspicion attached to the use of containers and other substances which come in contact with food if they have more than a minute lead content# Accordingly I should not wish to express an opinion on this subject until we had at hand such information as would enable me to arrivedat a fairly sound conclusion with regard to the possibility of absorption# X might point but to you also that quite apart from the actual facts in the matter as regards absorption the manufacturers and distributors of lead-containing products hstwe to consider their liabilities which may develop out of misconceptions of the hygienic significance of their products# However if you will supply me with the information which X have Mr. P* R* Stoner, Jr. requested, I think I can give yoir an opinion as to the probable effects of the use of the material you describe* Very truly yours, RAKtIS '- : = : ` Kobert A. Kekoe, H.S. i.