In our recent installments, we delved deep into how, back in 1934, the top echelons of the asbestos industry convened to tackle the mounting negative press surrounding the health hazards of asbestos – but what happened next? Let’s first recap.

Hiring a Respected Researcher

Even though company physicians had long alerted these executives about the respiratory issues appearing in miners and asbestos workers, the looming threat of employee lawsuits and discussions about asbestos regulation in legislative chambers added to their concerns. To counteract these growing health concerns, they strategically engaged a well-regarded scientific researcher, aiming to lend credibility to their claims, hoping to diminish – and even outright refute – the damaging health impacts of asbestos. 

However, when the findings indicated asbestos as a carcinogen, these corporate heads shamefully opted to suppress the study, ensuring all references to cancer or tumors were omitted from the final report. 

Why Saranac Laboratories?

The question then arises: Why did these asbestos leaders decide on Saranac Laboratories? And, even more perplexing, how did such a prestigious health research institution, previously known for its monumental role in a national campaign against tuberculosis, fail to disclose that a staggering 80% of its animal test subjects exposed to asbestos manifested cancerous tumors? 

Dr. Anthony Lanza: A Pivotal Figure

A significant part of this puzzle is linked to a physician by the name of Dr. Anthony Lanza.

Dr. Lanza’s association with the asbestos industry is not brief; spanning over half a century, this industry consistently denied the lethal nature of their products – but, as you’ll soon discover, the deception was profound. 

Dr. Lanza, upon his appointment as Chief Surgeon for the Bureau of Mines, embarked on a detailed study of lung diseases among miners; he penned a groundbreaking report, defining the array of lung ailments resulting from dust inhalation, collectively termed as pneumoconiosis. Yet, after several years, Lanza transitioned to the private sector, taking on the role of Medical Director for Metropolitan Life Insurance, and notably, becoming the leading figure in downplaying the health risks of asbestos.

Johns Manville’s Approach

His professional trajectory took another turn when Johns Manville, the world’s dominant asbestos corporation, approached him. They proposed funding a study (under Lanza’s guidance) on the health consequences of asbestos and silica; from one viewpoint, this move seemed responsible, seemingly an attempt by the company to ascertain the potential dangers of asbestos to both employees and consumers, but alas, that wasn’t the angle.

Manipulation and Revision of the Draft Report

By this juncture, many physicians and researchers, not just domestically but internationally, were increasingly vocal about the severe health repercussions of asbestos. However, as the asbestos industry scrutinized the draft, they swiftly made revisions, much to the dismay of their own medical counsel.

Over time, workers began initiating legal actions against asbestos companies, claiming health injuries. However, should research, particularly one steered by Dr. Lanza, proved the equivalence of asbestos health risks to silicosis, the industry would be compelled to make a radical shift, accepting accountability and covering health-related compensations. Additionally, while Dr. Lanza himself had past affiliations as a company physician and had already flagged the issues of asbestosis to them, the asbestos industry had a broader, more convoluted agenda.

Parallel with the Tobacco Industry

Drawing parallels with industries like tobacco, the playbook of the asbestos industry was not unique. When faced with undeniable evidence of health hazards, including cancer, their immediate reaction was to obscure the truth; they would fund and manipulate their own scientific research, carefully curating results to support the assertion that asbestosis was benign and unlinked to cancer.

Within this landscape, Johns Manville, the premier asbestos manufacturer of the 1920s, was undeniably influential. With vast asbestos reserves in Quebec, Canada, their products became synonymous with asbestos globally. Nevertheless, the impending bad news about asbestos pushed them to commission their own scientific inquiries, and Dr. Anthony Lanza was their chosen expert.

Beyond asbestos, Dr. Lanza’s research also encompassed silicosis, a disease resulting from inhaling silica dust, commonly found in minerals like granite. As the Chief Surgeon for the Bureau of Mines, Lanza’s earlier pioneering work on silicosis was widely recognized; with legislation and workers’ compensation already in place for silicosis, the asbestos industry was eager to differentiate it from asbestosis, which they long denied even existed.

Emerging Truth and Ethical Concerns

Still, as Dr. Lanza’s research progressed, his findings painted a bleak picture for the industry; he realized asbestosis was not only very real, but potentially even more hazardous. As legislative bodies like New Jersey’s contemplated recognizing asbestosis as an occupational health concern, the industry’s legal representatives were apprehensive about the potential consequences of Dr. Lanza’s report. Furthermore, while discussions on the ethical implications of withholding vital health information from employees might have occurred, they certainly weren’t documented; what was documented, however, was the industry’s feedback to Dr. Lanza. Disturbingly, when the finalized report surfaced – bearing Dr. Lanza’s endorsement – it included an erroneous statement previously removed by him.

Don’t Go Anywhere

This was just the beginning; the intricate web of deceit spun by the asbestos industry had layers yet to be uncovered. Check out the next installment of “Asbestos Exposed” as we unravel more about this gripping tale.

Watch Part 3 of Asbestos Exposed, the show that peels back the true story of the worldwide asbestos cover-up and its deadly, ongoing consequences.