What the Asbestos Industry Knew & When
Nationwide Asbestos Exposure Attorneys
As the following timeline indicates, manufacturers of asbestos have been well aware of health risks associated with asbestos for some time. Medical professionals, the insurance industry, even some manufacturers themselves noted a causal relationship between asbestos, mesolthelioma, and cancer. At Saville & Flint, our lawyers represent clients nationwide in cases involving asbestos exposure. If you or a family member suffering from a health condition due to exposure to asbestos, contact our attorneys at Saville & Flint today.
Asbestos Timeline
End of the 19th Century: Reports begin to emerge of lung disease in workers in asbestos factories.
1918: A United States Department of Labor report, written by a medical statistician for Prudential Life Insurance Company, indicates American and Canadian insurers routinely deny coverage to asbestos workers due to the hazards of asbestos. The report also mentions that the Chief Inspector of England has been notified of deaths and lung disease among workers in asbestos factories.
1922: A statistician for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company issues a report in which he claims asbestos workers are at an increased risk for developing fibrosis of the lungs.
1924: A British medical journal publishes an article on the death of a 33-year old employee in an asbestos textile factory.
1928: An editorial discussing pulmonary asbestosis appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Other articles and case histories involving the dangers of asbestos are published throughout the United States and Europe during this time.
1930: The first major clinical study involving hundreds of asbestos workers is published by Dr. Merewether, a prominent medical researcher. His study indicated that one out of every 4 workers was suffering from asbestosis. His study also found that asbestosis had a latency period between exposure and the onset of the disease. Dr. Merewether provided a number of suggestions to increases the safety of workers from dust and air born asbestos particles. He also concluded asbestos workers should be warned of the risks associated with asbestos.
1933: First report in the United States of an insulation worker contracting asbestosis.
1934: Researchers discover cases of asbestosis and lung cancer in workers in an asbestos factory. In some cases, employees had been exposed to asbestos for less than six months. Other published reports describe cases of asbestosis in boiler repairmen, custodians, and insulators who contracted the disease due to exposure in the workplace to asbestos-containing products.
1937: The Chief Safety Inspector for Standard Oil Company, Roy Bonsib, documents the occurrence of asbestosis and investigates dangers associated with particulate dust created by the installation or removal of insulation.
1937-1938: The Industrial Hygiene Foundation in its publication, “The Industrial Hygiene Digest,” lists eight article abstracts on asbestosis and two regarding cancer among asbestos factory workers.
1942: Dr. Heuper of the National Cancer Institute claims asbestos causes asbestosis and lung cancer. He also states exposure to asbestos can happen during the manufacturing process or through exposure to finished products containing asbestos.
1943: First known reported case of a mesothelioma tumor.
1944: The Journal of the American Medical Association claims asbestos is a known or suspected cause of occupational cancer.
1949: The Encyclopedia Britannica claims asbestos is a recognized cause of occupational cancer.
1955: A major epidemiological study is undertaken regarding the dangers of asbestos. The study indicates asbestos workers are at ten times the risk of the general population for contracting lung cancer.
1960: Dr. A.J. Fleming and Dr. C.A. D’Alonzo of DuPont release a report in which they claim that the high incidence of pulmonary carcinoma among asbestos workers has led most authorities to accept a causal relationship between asbestos exposure and lung cancer.
1964: Dr. Irving Selikoff, a doctor and researcher at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, issues a report indicating the existence of widespread disease among asbestos workers and their family members. Among those professions affected, Dr. Selikoff mentions construction workers, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters.
1971: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) implements the first asbestos safety standard.
1986: OSHA lowers its asbestos standard exposure from what it had initially approved in 1971 to .2 permissible exposure limits (PEL).
1994: OSHA further lowers is asbestos standard exposure to .1 PEL.
Contact Asbestos Exposure Lawyers at Saville & Flint
If you need information regarding the legal options available to you regarding asbestos related injuries or fatalities, contact asbestos exposure attorneys at the law office of Saville & Flint today. We represent clients throughout the nation and are prepared to drive or fly to meet with you if you are unable to travel. Call today toll-free at 866-461-3220.