Evening star., 1924-10-28
j. s. INVESTIGATES
ETHYL GAS PERIL
Fuel Which Caused Three
Deaths in Laboratory Sold
Extensively Here.

Ethyl gasoline, fumes from which
are blamed for the deaths of three
workmen in the New Jersey plant
where some of it is being manufac-
! tured, is sold at most of the automo-
bile service stations in Washington,
Maryland and nearby points in Vir-
ginia, and has long been known by
attendants at the stations as a dan
gerous substance to handle. .
Interest has resulted here from the
tragedy in Bayway, n. j., where as
many as a score of men employed in
the plant there of the Standard Oil
Company of New Jersey are reported
to be in hospitals suffering from
tetraethyl lead poisoning, the most
important substance used in the COM
mercial manufacture of the new and
popular ethyl gas.
simultaneously it became known
that the Pittsburgh plant of the
United States Bureau of Mines. under
the direction of DIR. Il. r. Sayers,
chief surgeon of the bureau. has been
conducting researches for the past 10
months to determine whether the
presence of the deadly tetraethyl lead
| in the fuel might be menace to the
public.
Charges Sale Menace.
DR.. Yandell Henderson, professor of
applied physiology at Yale University,
when consulted by New York physicians,
who admitted themselves to be baffled
by the mysterious poison that had
killed the New Jersey workmen,
charged that the sale of the gaso-
line on commercial basis is a public
menace.
1t is pointed out by some experts
that since the tetraethyl lead is ad-
mitted to be present in the gasoline
before it is burned, it must neces-
sarily find its way out of the auto
mobile engine in some form. Officials
of the Standard Oil Co. declared that
the lead is either burned up or re-
mains in the walls of the motor.
DIR. Sayres said the Bureau of
Mines had used doves, pigeons, mon
keys, guinea pigs and rabbits in it's
efforts to determine whether it would
be possible for a human being to be
poisoned by the fumes from the ex-
haust. 1t is possible to poison those
birds and animals with the tetraethyl
lead by other means, DR.. Sayres
added, so that the effects of the lead
on them might be accepted as a
truthful indication of how it would
attack a human being.
Ne Danger Yet Found.
Thus far, DR.. Sayres said, the re-
search has indicated that there is no
danger from that source, but he add
ed that the experiments are several
months from being completed, at
least. and until the tests are finished
he would not wish to express an
official opinion one way or the other.
At that time the results of the eX-
animation are to be published.
Attendants at gas stations in Wash
;npton have known for long time
that the substance they inject into the
regular straight" gas that makes 1t
"ethyI" gas is dangerous to handle.
Tbev have frequently told customers
that they handle it with the greatest
care and are especially particular to
make sure that none of 1t gets on
their hands. ~
Seek Eject ON Users.
Part of the Bureau of Mines in
yestigation is to determine whether
or not the presence of the raw mate
| rial at the gas stations might not
Droye dangerous to the public. 1t is
said that the men attacked in New
Jersey were never subject to large
quantities of the tetraethyl lead, but
inhaled minute particles over periods
of several weeks. - ''
There is a question whether or not
customers and employees at gas sta
| tfons might not be similarly affected
eventually by inhaling the vapor as
| the fluid runs into the tanks of theil
engines. This part of the Govern.
ment's investigation also remains t.
he completed and definite decision
on it cannot be expected for severa
months. at least. !
-pn VICTIM Is DEAD