Health Risk Cover-up |
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The health risks associated with asbestos were first noted in the early 20th century. In 1900, a London doctor discovered asbestos fibers at autopsy in the lungs of an asbestos-textile worker. Lung scarring was noted in the chest x-rays of 5 asbestos-factory workers in Pennsylvania in 1917 and only a year later, an insurance statistician reported that insurers commonly denied coverage to asbestos workers, because of its assumed health risks. The name 'asbestosis' was coined in 1924 by a British doctor describing the cause of death of a female asbestos-textile worker.
Even though the health risks associated with asbestos were widely accepted by the eve of World War II, these were ignored when asbestos manufacture again took off during the war and afterwards. There is much documented evidence (in memos and other documents) that asbestos mining and manufacturing companies and their insurers were fully aware of the risks of asbestos, but failed to either protect their workers (or the public), let them know of these risks, or admit liability. By 1979, 730,000 of the approximately 27.5 million workers exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1979 initiated law-suits against companies involved with asbestos production. The success of many of these is due to the evidence of the cover-ups that continued through the 1970s and beyond.
For a full account of the extent of the epidemic of asbestos-associated diseases and the cover-ups initiated by the asbestos industry, see the report by the Environmental Working Group, 'Asbestos — Think Again'.
