Document zoMZQXXg6KeV3Gomv9124z3z

April 12, 1960 H. A. Lewis, M. D. Kaiser Steel Corporation Fontana Works P.0. Box 217 Fontana California Dear Hal: Shortly after your letter of March 10 came to Dr, Phair, he brought it to ray attention and I elected to reply to it for him. In this I was mindful of a related inquiry which you had directed to my attention sorae time ago to which I had not given a satisfactory answer. Since that time the situation as I see it has changed somewhat. In addition to this situation I had had an opportunity recently to talk with Jim Hughes and some others in the Kaiser organization, including the head of the Law Department, who had manifested a considerable interest in hygienic problems other than that of Kaiser Aluminum - namely the fluoride problem. I wished, therefore, as promptly as possible, to acquaint you with the subject of our conversation so that it would not come as a surprise to you if he were to mention it. I*ve been a bit slow in doing thi3 because of other duties, but I hope my delay will not have had any unfortunate consequences. At any rate, this is the first chance I have had to write to you. John Phair tells me today that he hopes to see you on his trip to the West Coast. He will be at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley on the evening of April 18th and until the evening of the twenty-second. Perhaps you will find it possible to see him, or at least to write or telephone him there. If not, a later time will come. I think I should tell you, however, that he has been engaged in an epidemiologic investigation of lung cancer in coal tar workmen, and there are good reasons for wishing to extend this work. I believe you are entirely correct in your opinion that this problem will be raised; this is likely to happen soon, and it could be triggered by any one of several minor occurrences. There would be a considerable advantage, I believe, (unless there are unsatisfactory features about which I know nothing) in this kind of investigation at Fontana, provided a sufficient number of persons with prolonged exposure is available. However, I do not need to say anything further about this, for John will be better able to deal with the details of an adequate survey than can I. So far as I know there are no environmental data by which to rate the severity of N13933 KAISEi H. A. Lewia, M. D -a- April 12, I960 such an exposure, and it seems likely that as adequate survey could and should include an Investigation of both xaen and the environment. However, negative findings in tenss of the incidence of the disease would be very valuable, both in themselves and as a base line for further investigation. I was pleased to know that things are going well and that the number of our people in your vicinity grows. X*m sorry you will not be at Rochester for the meeting of the alumni. We shall miss you. With respect to the subject of the recent conversation referred to above, it had to do with our effort to get together the funds required to finance an addition to the Laboratory. The question was, of course, not a charitable contribution, but rather the extent to which Kaiser interest in the continued activities of The Kettering Laboratory might Justify an investment in our future facilities. 2f you think favorably of the idea, and have an opportunity to express your opinion, I shall be pleased to have you do so. Sincerely yours. Hebert A. Kohoo, 'M. P. RA&j s s cc: John Efcair, M. D. o 0012187