Jan 11, 1972
TO: MEMBERS OF THE LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION, INC.
As you have already been notified, Mr. John L. Kimberley has
retired, effective December 31, 1971, as Executive Vice President of the
Lead Industries Association and the Zinc Institute.
With the death of Mr. David M. Borcina, there have also been
changes to the staff of LIA. Mr. Jerome F. Smith has been elected
Secretary of the Association, in addition to his appointive position
as Manager. Mr. R. J. O'Hara of Amax has been elected Treasurer, a
position he also holds with the Zinc Institute.
Press releases concerning my election as Executive Vice President
LIA/ZI, and Mr. Smith's appointment, have been sent to pertinent publica-
tions. Copies are attached for your information.
Sincerely,
Philip E. Robinson
Executive Vice President
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Mr. Robinson comes to the associations from St. Joe
Minerals Corporation where ha has been Director of
Corporate Communications and Director of Market
Development since October 1967. Prior to his associa-
tion with St. Joe, Mr. Robinson held executive
positions with Palmer, Willson a Worden advertising
agency, Beaunit Corporation, Tyrex, Inc., the rayon
cord producers association. Modern Tire Dealer Magazine
and the Rational Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association.
Mr. Robinson holds a degree in political science from
the University of Vermont and has done masters work
at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Public
Administration. A first lieutenant in the U. S. Army
during World War II, Mr. Robinson is a Captain in the
retired Reserve.
His business affiliations include the National Press
Club and the Public Relations Society of America
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson live in Massapequa, L. I.,
Hew York, and are the parents of two teenage daughters
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https://cdn.toxicdocs.org/KG/KGk7gBZpQ6YxBZzQympVYBObQ/KGk7gBZpQ6YxBZzQympVYBObQ.pdf
January 31, 1972 letter from Philip E. Robinson, Executive Vice President of the Lead Industries Assocation striving to keep lead in paint.
https://cdn.toxicdocs.org/1g/1gMd3nk5M4JQNzDXg24xKKY4d/1gMd3nk5M4JQNzDXg24xKKY4d.pdf
March 6, 1972 letter from Philip E. Robinson, Executive Vice President of the Lead Industries Assocation striving to keep lead in paint.
Back-and-forth mail about trying to censor statements about lead in gasoline in a film entitled Lead Poisoning, The Hidden Epidemic. How very meta. The edits say that poor children, not middle-class children are being poisoned and the lead comes from food not air polution (lead in gasoline car exhaust).
Some of the mail is cc:ed to Robinson.
Handwritten, proposed edits to script, undated
We have arrived at a cost of $900.00 to make the narration changes in the film "Lead Poisoning-The Hidden Epidemic" that you requested at our meeting July 25.Hidden Epidemic August 2, 1972
We certainly agree in principle with the proposal given in your letter of July 28, 1972, for the narration change in the film, "Lead-Poisoning-The Hidden Epidemic." This is an excellent movie and with the proposed change in Paragraph 6—which will eliminate the reference to lead in automotive exhausts—we think this film will find wide acceptance in the health field.Hidden Epidemic August 31, 1972
It is unfortunate that we could not arrive at a mutually satisfactory arrangement for your present movie,Hidden Epidemic November 1, 1972
We regret that we could not accept your offer to help us in the marketing of the present version of the film. One of the overriding reasons we had to decline your offer was due to the objections of several National Health Organizations that had endorsed the film in its present version. However, this does not prevent us in making a version for the Lead Association. In our initial conference, we suggested that a seperate version be made for your Association that would eliminate those sections that you found objectionable. We feel that the changes you requested could be accomplished without causing any undo problems.Hidden Epidemic November 17, 1972
Mr. Jerome F. Smith of the Lead Industries Association has referred your letter of November 7th to me for reply. I agreed with Mr. Smith end his appraisal of your film "Lead Poisoning - The Hidden Epidemic" that it represents an excellent film of this type, however, as you know we felt that it included some misleading sec- tions which kept us from supporting it wholeheartedly. We were most surprised that you, with the advice 66 Dr. Dorothy Harrison would not accept our criticisms of the film and refused to make alterations which would have made the film such more effective. [...skip ...] You have our congratulations for winning the 1972 Silver Medal, awarded from the New York International Film Festival.Hidden Epidemic May 10, 1973
We have received inquiries from several member companies about a promotional brochure for a film entitled "Lead Poisoning - The Hidden Epidemic." Apparently the producers are circulating this brochure to our entire membership in the hopes that copies of the file will be purchased or otherwise promoted by the lead industry. About six Months ago, the Association was asked to review this film, which we did. In the sis in it was well done although it does contain one brief, misleading segment that attempts to establish a relationship between lead in the air due to automotive gasoline antiknocks and childhood lead poisoning. Me objected strongly to this allegation and suggested that if the producer would be willing to tone down or remove the segment, the Association would Bake every effort to help promote the film. After considerable discussion, the producer refused to delete the objection- able segment, and the Association, therefore, does not recommend this film either to its members or to any public health agency.
A New York Time letter-to-the-editor
July 5, 1973
If man's inhumanity to animals Were not almost as great as his inhumanity to man, Congress would unhesitatingly pass two measures now before it which should have been passed literally decades ago. One is designed to save two to three million birds ,from needless death each year, not directly at the hands of hunters, but indirectly, senselessly, slowly and agonizingly from ingesting the lead shot that hunters have already expended.
Authorities have known for many years about the toxic effect of these pellets on ducks, swans, geese and marsh birds, which pick them up while feeding. But action is always deferred — even as the Department of the Interior is now dragging its feet—on some such ground as the possible damage to gun barrels that might be caused by iron shot or the time required for manufacturers to make the necessary changes in equipment.
Representative Roncalio of Wyoming has moved in the House of Representatives to put an end to the cruel folly of annually poisoning some 3 or 4 per cent of the nation's waterfowl. His effort deserves support far beyond that of the many environmental and wildlife organizations that have not only backed his proposed ban on lead shot but also petitioned the Secretary of the Interior to push for quick action.
[Ed. Note: Europe no longer permits selling wild game for food if it has been killed with lead shot.]
https://cdn.toxicdocs.org/J3/J363nM42Z1j9bEgVE0jJ3zner/J363nM42Z1j9bEgVE0jJ3zner.pdf
Robinson noted that Lynam and Baker are discussing the lead shot situation with Interior Department officials. Also, Winchester Western apparently has developed information that the substitute steel shot creates a greater amount of crippling of waterfowl than lead. The company also questions statistics on the severity of the problem. Cole and Baker are to meet with Winchester Western representatives to get more details. After these meetings an action program will be planned. https://cdn.toxicdocs.org/dQ/dQzM85LjY37r8bE3pzLmdoVq/dQzM85LjY37r8bE3pzLmdoVq.pdf
July 10, 1973 Philip E. Robinson We have responded to a recent editorial in the N. Y. Times (July 5, 1973) which called for the banning of lead shot for waterfowl hunting. A copy of the letter is attached. Editor The New York Times 229 West U3rd Street New York, N.Y. 10036 Dear Sir: Your editorial of July 5, 1973 (Lead Shot, Steel Trap) tends to over simplify a situation concerning-the use of lead shot in waterfowl hunting which many knowledgable people think is not quite so simple as it might seem. Indeed, this may he why the Department of Interior - far from dragging its feet - continues to carefully weigh the various alternatives, including the substitution of iron shot. Not only is there indication of damage to gun barrels and other malfunctions with the use of iron shot, there is serious concern that the crippling rate among waterfowl will be significantly increased. It is our understanding that tests are now being conducted concerning this latter point. While we cannot argue the figures used in your editorial because we do not know of any conclusive data that either confirms or denies them, it is interesting to note that some Maryland officials reported last year that 5,000 to 6,000 waterfowl died of lead poisoning in that State. Subsequently, a member of the State's Natural Resources Department reported that these deaths were from all causes, and seemingly had been based on the examination of only 25 ducks and 34 geese. Even the most ardent advocates of "banning lead shot in waterfowl hunting concede that there are other causes for mortality among these birds. Among them are the water levels and habitat of their feeding grounds. Man-made as well as natural changes in the environment have restricted the total areas of these feeding grounds. We do not question that if waterfowl ingest enough lead that in course of time, poisoning will occur. We do question whether each year 3 to 4 percent of the nation's waterfowl die solely from this cause, and we are seriously concerned that substitutes such as iron shot may well increase very significantly the mortality rates among waterfowl, perhaps well beyond that now occurring. Cordially, Philip E. Robinson Executive Vice President
https://cdn.toxicdocs.org/km/km728OO77nb81dMEgEVvgVBOq/km728OO77nb81dMEgEVvgVBOq.pdf
40 to 80 micrograms per deciliter of lead in the blood is acceptable.Sincerely,
Philip E. Robinson
Executive Vice President
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On June 6, 1978, Mr. Philip E. Robinson resigned as President of the Lead Industries Association, Inc.
Philip Edwin Robinson, former Amityville resident and executive director of Amityville Chamber
January 25, 2006
by Carolyn James
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Philip Edwin Robinson died January 12, 2006 at VA Stratton Hospital in Albany, New York, following a brief illness. He was 82 years old.
“He was an honest and completely trustworthy person,”
