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INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Ethyl Gasoline Again Available T WILL be recalled that in May, 1925, Surgeon General Ithose Hugh S. Cumming of the Public Health Service invited interested in the problem to meet in a conference under his chairmanship and discuss such data and theories as might be presented relative to the alleged hazard in the manufacture, distribution, and use of tetraethyl lead as an antiknock compound in gasoline. The committee appointed was asked to consider the hazards involved in the retail distribution and general use of tetraethyl lead and was expected to report as near January 1, 1926, as possible. The committee has now made its report, which we are glad to print on page 193 of this issue. Later, there will be available through the Public Health Service copies of the data, methods, and all other records upon which this brief report is based. It was fortunate that so distinguished a group of men as those composing the committee, under the chairmanship of William H. Howell, professor of physiology a t the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, could supervise the investigation and could serve without remuneration, there being no appropriation from which even a modest honorarium could be paid. They have rendered valuable service to the public, and as the result of this report it is hoped that means will be provided whereby other groups of scientists may undertake other investigations of possible hazards well in advance of any emergency. The report, which was presented by the chairman of the committee before an open Conference on January 19, confirms the excellent piece of work done some time ago by the Bureau of Mines under the direction of Dr. R. R. Sayre and also the results reported by Dr. R. A. Kehoe of the University of Cincinnati. The results of these investigations had previously been severely criticized and it is, therefore, a pleasure to record the confirmation of their work by the present committee. It is expected that even before this comment can appear regulations will have been formulated as suggested by the committee. In conference with state health officers, representatives of the manufacturers, the distributors of tetraethyl lead gasoline, and representatives of labor reasonable regulations will be drafted. It will then remain for the individual municipalities and states to take such action as seems best to them to make again available to the gasoline-using public this chemical mixture which offers such great economies. With the resumption of the distribution of ethyl gasoline many new developments may be anticipated. The redesign of automobile motors may be expected. The use of new materials will be encouraged and many economies effected. It should be stressed, however, that no responsible person identifled with any phase of the automotive industry desires to see any economic progress made a t the expense of public health. The president of the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation, in announcing plans to resume operations, expressed his intention of continuing in cooperation with the Surgeon General and of giving full effect to the committee’s recommendations. Tetraethyl lead may not be the ultimate antiknock compound, but its use will stimulate such research on motors as to abolish eventually, through perfect combustion, the greatest poison involved, carbon monoxide. The evidence shows that those responsible for the manufacture and distribution of tetraethyl lead took elaborate precautions to protect all who came in contact with the material and notwithstanding their own convictions, based on experience, they voluntarily discontinued offering the material to the public when doubts were raised by some scientists as to the public hazard. Too often the enthusiasm of the manufacturer leads him to minimize hazards both to the employee and the public, and his investigations are not
Vol. 18, No. 2
so thorough as could be wished. Then, too, in contrast with the present case, often an emergency may arise and pressure be brought to bear upon him before he discontinues manufacture. There are many other hazards in industry to the workers engaged in production, as well as to the consuming public, which merit equally careful investigation and experiment. Certain substitutes for ethyl alcohol in the preparation of food products are being offered and used without sufficient scientific data as to their influence on public health. The investigation serves to eniphasize the necessity of requiring adequate ventilation and cleanliness in garages and automobile repair shops. Hazards in no way related to ethyl gasoline are known to exist in the majority of such places. No time should be lost in enacting municipal ordinances and state regulations to guarantee safe conditions. The ethyl gasoline investigation was carried on with public health funds available only a t considerable sacrifice to other investigations. If the ethyl gasoline study is to be continued as it should be and if, under its ample authority, the Public Health Service is to conduct investigations along other lines affecting hazards in industry and public health, adequate provision must be made in the budget. The scope of its work is not limited by authority. It is limited wholly by a lack of personnel and facilities, which is another way of saying appropriations. At the conclusion of the conference a motion was adopted recommending that Congress be asked to provide money to carry on such important work, and it is hoped that there will be no lack of support whenever the officials of the Public Health Service request sums with which to conduct the scientific work really necessary to protect the public. In the ethyl gasoline investigation chemistry, in the hands of those trained in the methods, supplied many of the data which will save for general use a compound introduced by another group of chemists. Chemistry can save industries if called upon in time. It may even resurrect an industry, but it is far better to seek its aid when the industry shows the first signs of indisposition.
Working Leaven N GALATIANS we read that “A little leaven leaveneth the Ifluence whole lump,” and while no mention is made of the inof temperature and concentration on the rate of leavening, we have many practical examples to show their influence. In January it was our privilege to comment upon the gift of Mr. John D. Rockefeller for the promotion of fundamental research in the petroleum industry. On page 189 of this issue it is our pleasure to announce the gift of the Universal Oil Products Company to the American Petroleum Institute of an equal amount for the same purpose. Others engaged in the petroleum industry will doubtless add still more to the resources to be placed at the disposal of those who w ill undertake this interesting, important, and profitable work. How often the work of preparation is carried on for years before any fruit is borne! Then the harvest may be so bounteous as to call for great care in the administration of sums placed at the disposal of research directors. In these various movements the members of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETYare always conspicuous. It is they who prepare the programs of constructive work, who present these programs with detailed explanations and arguments to those to whom the administration of large resources is given, and with financing well done it is again the members of the SOCIETYwho more often than not are called upon to direct the work, to do the work, and to obtain the results. There
