Trip to visit National Lead Company Plant in St.

The EPA has identified lead poisoning as a top environmental health threat to children in a report released in September 1996.

This may result in their being fatally poisoned after comparatively short periods of exposure, (one to several hours).

Fahryka In 1964 Eliasson demonstrated reduced impulse conduction velocities in excised peripheral nerves from depan^reatized. rats, and from rats with experimental alloxan diabetes** This demonstration suggested that con duction velocity of excised nerve might serve as a physiological indicator of peripheral nerve involvement resulting from exposure to industrial chemicals* This suggestion is supported by "in situ" conduction velocity studies on experimental animals: slowed conduction velocity in peripheral nerve has been demonstrated to accompany allergic polyneuritis in guinea pigs 2 9 diptheric polyneuritis in guinea pigs 2* and 3 cats , lead poisoning in guinea pigs4 , and chronic acrylamide poisoning in rats 5 # Clinical studies on humans also lend support: reduced conduction velocity along the ulnar rerve in 10 women with severe polyneuropathy associated with triortho** g cresyl phosphate poisoning , and "borderline" slowing in two patients with lead neuropathy^ and in five patients with neuropathy subsequent to cutaneous absorption of an Industrial solvent (85% trichloroethylene, 10% ethylene 7 dichloride, 5% tritoluol phosphate) .

Pa.) for blood lead determination.

The second is the trend in the incidence of children with elevated blood lead levels and lead poisoning levels.

Lead Exposure and Lead Poisoning".

Eyers and his associates for carrying on the program I sooke to you about last nontn at tne Children's hospital and I do hope it v;ill result in giviri:: us enouen 'information to get at the facts in the alleged cases of leed poison ing among Children

Dear Doctor Sayers:- A few days ago I received a letter from Graham Edgar telling me of his conversation with you in New York concerning some alleged cases of lead poisoning in employees of the DuPont Company in the Baton Rouge plant.

Perhaps you do not realize it /but there has never been a case of poisoning from this cause, and therefore no doctor has ever seen such a case or has had any experience therewith.

I am afraid I may have misled you somewhat if I gave you the impression that subjective symptoms are without value in the early diagnosis of lead poisoning.

Inquiry reveals no possi- ble known source of lead other than the potential Ethyl source, and that there had been no unusual exposure to ETHYL fluid. .

Van Sickle definitely s u s p e c t s s u f f e r i n g from lead poisoning due to contact with gasoline containing tetra ethyl lead.

K eh oe: Thanks very much for the trouble you took in writing me concerning the papers on lead poisoning.

DISCUSSION GROUP on. the REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD POISONING Meeting of 26 May 1969 The Rockefeller University The following individuals have indicated their intention to attend: LANKAN* Jonathan T., M.D.