Proceedings of a conference to determine whether or not there is a public health question in the manufacture, distribution, or use of tetraethyl lead gasoline / Prepared by direction of the surgeon general.

  • United States. Public Health Service.
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Proceedings of a conference to determine whether or not there is a public health question in the manufacture, distribution, or use of tetraethyl lead gasoline / Prepared by direction of the surgeon general. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    developed tremors and other symptoms usually associated with lead poisoning. An accumulation of lead was found in all animals analyzed. 9. The guinea pigs exposed to motor benzol and a benzol gasoline blend showed signs of marked intoxication and irritation of the eyes and respiratory passages, and a great proportion of those ex- posed to high concentrations died. 10. No dogs or monkeys exposed to 0.8 per cent gasoline and 0.3 per cent commercial ethyl gasoline have shown any ill effects. 11. The guinea pigs and rabbits which died after a number of exposures to commercial ethyl gasoline showed an accumulation of lead. TOXIC EFFECTS OF ETHYL GASOLINE WHEN APPLIED TO THE SKIN OF ANIMALS Proeress Reporr No, 2, Part ILI. 1. Tetraethyl lead, ethylene dibromide, gasoline containing ten times the amount of ethyl fluid used in commercial ethyl gasoline, commercial ethyl gasoline, and gasoline were applied to the skin of monkeys, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats in amounts from one- tenth cubic centimeter to 1 cubic centimeter. 2. The summation of skin absorption, inhalation, and possible ingestion of lead is shown by a group of test animals treated with tetraethyl lead and with gasoline containing tetraethyl lead and housed together. All animals in this group showed lead accumula- tion on analysis of those that died or were killed. 3. A group of animals treated so as to prevent inhalation with gasoline containing ethyl fluid in commercial concentration and ten times the commercial amounts showed lead accumulation. 4. A group of animals treated so as to prevent inhalation and ingestion (by washing and blanketing) with gasoline containing ten times the commercial concentration of ethyl fluid showed lead accumulation. 5. A group of animals are being treated as given in 4, but with commercial ethyl gasoline. This work has been in progress only a comparatively short time, and no symptoms have been noted t date. | 6. Animals treated with ethylene dibromide (about 95 per cent pure) showed marked intoxication and died within 24 hours after one application of 0.25 cubic centimeter. 7. Animals treated in the same manner as given in 6, but with tetraethyl lead, showed marked intoxication and died within 36 hours.