February 19, 1970

Representative Leonard Farbstein
Congress of the United States
House of Kepresentatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Farbstein,

Please let me record ny unreserved support for the position
you have taken on the floor of the house wtBh respect to the abolition
of lead additives in gasoline.

I am particularly exercised by the negligent attitude that the
proponents of tieage materials have been expressing recently with respect
to the potential health hazard of environmental lead. It may be true that
it has been very difficult to establish conclusively acute population
injury from airborn lead but this is only because we are exposed to such
a complex variety of environmental assaults in every day living. That
lack of precise information certainly cannot be translated into complacent
assurances that lead can do no harm - we know much better!

Appended to my enclosed article of January 17th I have a brief
bibliography that points to some recent information on lead toxicity.
In addition, even stishe that time there has been new work from Finland
which is particularly pertinent and of which I enclose a copy.

Please continue your good work.

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

JL/re
enclosures

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