Document zorRN29RGpGqY7g9b2jQBkNKB

August 1$, 1953 Mr. >urr L. Aton Industrial Hygienist The Eagle-picher Company Mining and Smeltln,. Division Tri-State Mines Ciardin, Oklahoma DOar Mr, Aton j Since Dr, Kehoe is on vacation at the present time, I am taking the liberty of answering your letter to him of august 9th in order that there will be no undue delay. Since your letter is rather broad and omits details, I feel it best to answer in a rather general fashion. Thus, if you have a problem in suspected toxicity of known or uhknown materials, we might be able to help you in one of the fallowing fashions. 1, Although physiological consequences of the absorption of silicon and cadmium are rather well known, little is known about the effects of germanium absorption. If you have extensive problems with this material, we might be helpful tcj> you by carrying out toxicological investigations. 2. If your methods of utilization of these materials are unique or in^any other way unusual or if you do not know the precise extent of the exposure of your personnel to these substances, we could design and carry out for you an industrial hygiene survey in order to establish the precise status of environmental hazards. 5. If some of your people are developing illnesses from these materials, we could arrange to have them sent here and studied with our own facilities or if it seems more desirable or realistic (depending upon the actual conditions}, we could s^nd a team of physicians to your plant to ao the examinations You will understand that of necessity my answers are rather broad and non-definitive. If I could know somethin more of your problem and in greater detail, it might be possible for me to effer more specific suggestions. In the meantime however, I would like to suggest that if this problem is of any serious consequence, we might arrange a meeting between you and your representatives and ourselves to discuss this at greater length ana to your greater advantage. If it hr. uurr L. A ton - - August 13, 195^ would uppeur to you to be convenient to do so, I would suggest that you visit us here at any appropriate time in order that we may go into the question more carefully. If I can bo of any further assistance to you, do not hesitate to write to me. Yours sincerely. FP:rias Frank Princi, M.D. Associate director The Kettering Laboratory