Kenneth W. Smith to E. W. Redd of Leed Insulator Corporation on Asbestosis (1964)

A two-page letter of December 3, 1964, from Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, J-M's medical director, to E. W. Redd of an insulation company in Los Angeles, answering Redd's correspondence with a Dr. Johnstone about asbestosis. Of the study of insulation workers behind the year's "unnecessary publicity," Smith wrote, "I do not believe that the so-called facts which were reported are basically correct," arguing that the men were called asbestos workers only because they belonged to the Asbestos Workers Union and had been exposed to many other materials. "I personally do not believe that there is a serious health hazard associated with the use of asbestos," he wrote, adding that "when reasonable precautions are taken in the handling of the fiber and satisfactory working conditions are maintained, no health problem will exist."

What it shows

Smith told Redd he had worked in the industry for over 20 years and had observed over 2,000 employees at J-M's large asbestos mine and mill, where he said there was no lung cancer or other serious health problem. Two months earlier he had told a J-M executive privately that he was not prepared to say whether chrysotile caused lung cancer (memo to C. W. Hite). He also urged Redd to make sure the dust masks he gave his men were the type approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Dr. K.W. Smith letter to E.W. Redd (Leed Insulator Corporation) dated 12/3/64, responding to Redd's inquiry concerning asbestosis and insulation workers. Referring to the Selikoff report, Dr. Smith states that he does not believe the "so-called facts which were reported are basically correct." Everything was blamed on asbestos. The report ignored the fact that the workers were not just exposed to asbestos, but to many other potentially toxic materials. It is unfortunate that the report received so much publicity and that many people became unduly apprehensive.

Dr. Smith states that he does not believe that there is a serious health hazard associated with the use of asbestos; this opinion is based on his 20-year experience in the industry. He has seen no lung cancer or other serious health problems at the mine and mill. ". . . [W]hen reasonable precautions are taken in the handling of the fiber and satisfactory working conditions are maintained, no health problem will exist."