Dr. Paul Cartier to A. L. Penhale of Asbestos Corporation on the New York Lung Cancer Conference (1950)

A two-page letter of November 6, 1950, from Dr. Paul Cartier of the Thetford Industrial Clinic in Thetford Mines, Quebec, to A. L. Penhale of Asbestos Corporation Limited, headed "New York Conference and Cancer of the Lungs in the Asbestos Industry," with a cover note sending a copy to Dr. Kenneth W. Smith of Canadian Johns-Manville. Cartier reports that the prevailing impression in the British medical profession, that asbestosis might increase the incidence of lung cancer, rested on the statistics of the Chief Inspector of Factories and of the pathologist Gloyne, which found more lung cancer in the asbestosis group than in the general population or in silicosis. He writes that qualified statisticians at the conference did not find the English figures conclusive, and recommends a study of all the available information in the Quebec asbestos district.

What it shows

Cartier was one of the two company doctors (with Smith) who would screen X-rays for the Quebec producers' lung cancer study (November 1950 Saranac meeting). His letter shows the Quebec industry's doctors well aware of the British findings (Merewether) and preparing their own local count.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

In a letter to A.L. Penhale of the Asbestos Corporation dated 11/6/50 regarding the NY Conference on cancer of the lungs in the asbestos industry, Dr. P. Cartier discusses the prevailing impression among British physicians that asbestosis might increase the incidence of lung cancer. He refers to the statistics of Merewether and Professor Gloyne (pathologist) as source material. He states that these researchers have found a tenfold increase in the incidence of lung cancer in the asbestotic group when compared with the general population. Cartier points out that conference attendees (including three "qualified statisticians") did not believe the English statistics were "soundly conclusive" because they were "based on a random selection." Cartier notes that the link between asbestosis and cancer appears to be a "suspicious problem" and recommends a complete investigation of all the information available from clinical and death certificates in the Asbestos District to confirm or deny the British conclusions. Cartier sent a copy of his letter to K. Smith.

Related documents

• E. R. A. Merewether, The Pneumokonioses: Developments, Doubts, Difficulties (1949)
• S. Roodhouse Gloyne, "Two Cases of Squamous Carcinoma of the Lung Occurring in Asbestosis" (1935)