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LEAD TETRA-ETHYL IN PETROL.

7th August 1928, Page 47
7th August 1928
Page 47
Page 47, 7th August 1928 — LEAD TETRA-ETHYL IN PETROL.
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Report of Departmental Committee, which Goes to Show that Alarm is Not Justified.

AN interim report has been presented to Parliament by the Departmental Committee appointed last April to inquire into the possible dangers to health resulting from the use of motor spirit containing lead tetra-ethyl or similar lead-containing compounds, and to report what precautions, if any, are desirable for the protection of the public or of individuals in connection with the use or handling of such motor spirit. The committee has come to the following conclusion :

"Having very carefully considered the experimental work which has been done in the United States in regard to the use of ethyl petrol, and the evidence which we ourselves have taken, and having had the advantage ot discussing the matter with Surgeon-General Cumming and Dr. Leake, of the United States Public Health Service, we have come to the conclusion that the findings of the United States Government Committee were justified. In our opinion the further experience since that committee reported has supported their conclusion that there were no reasons for prohibiting the use of ethyl petrol.

"Although there is no evidence to show that the use of ethyl petrol as a motor fuel involves more dangers to health than the use of ordinary petrol, we think, for the time being, the precautions indicated in the Regulations suggested by the United States Committee are desirable. In particular we wish to emphasize the warning that ethyl petrol should be used only as a motor fuel and not for such purposes as cooking or cleaning. No Regulations have tactually been made in the United States as regards the distribution of ethyl petrol, but careful observance of the Regulations recommended in regard to notices to the public, the labelling of cans ancr pumps, the distribution of leaflets and the dyeing of the substance red as an additional cheek against its uso otherwise than as a motor fuel, has been secured by the terms of the contracts between the proprietors of the fuel and the retailers. Sales in this country are governed in the same way, and we do not desire to recommend any legislative action so long as the terms of the contract are maintained.

"We think it well to point out that adequate ventilation of all garages whether or not ethyl petrol is used is a matter of considerable importance, and that the danger from carbon-monoxide in an unventilated garage is very serious.

"Having regard to the somewhat alarming statements made in the House of Lords and in the Press, it has seemed to us desirable to make this Interim Report and to publish the evidence which we have taken. Owing to the small consumption of ethyl petrol in this country it would be impossible at present to embark upon an extensive examination of 'human subjects, and in view of the scope and thoroughness of the investigations of this type made in the United States, we consider it would be superfluous to do so. The value of such work is in proportion to the length of time it has been carried on, and in this respect any investigations in this country would necessarily fall short by three years of the United States investigations, which, are still being continued. We have, however, decided to make some investigations with a view to confirming certain points in the work carried out in the United States, and possibly elucidating some points which are not covered by that work."


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