Saranac Laboratory, Proposal for an Experimental Investigation of the Potential Carcinogenicity of Asbestos Fibers (1955)

A confidential eight-page research proposal of February 15, 1955, from the Saranac Laboratory to the Air Hygiene Committee of the Asbestos Textile Institute, signed by Dr. G. W. H. Schepers, its director.Schepers proposed a three-year study exposing mice, rats, guinea pigs and monkeys to crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile, alone and with beryllium, to test whether asbestos causes cancer. Its purpose was "to probe the very vexed question of the relationship of asbestos dust inhalation to the increasing discovery of lung cancer in man." Saranac would put in $14,000 of its own funds the first year and hoped to continue; it asked the committee for $24,131, $16,275 and $17,344 over the three years.

What it shows

Schepers wrote that "Several authors already have unhesitatingly incriminated asbestos," and that a Saranac mouse study had already found that Canadian chrysotile dust "produced significantly increased occurrence of neoplasms" in a tumor-prone strain. He noted that asbestos reached workers in textile, ceramic, construction, brake, paper and pipe plants, and that "Even certain cigarette filters are made from asbestos." If asbestos were proven to cause lung cancer, dust levels would have to come down below those thought safe for asbestosis and doctors would have to watch exposed patients longer; if not, the results would reassure "executives and employees in the asbestos industry." The committee had reviewed a Saranac proposal on lung cancer and asbestosis in March 1955 (Motley #45).

In Johns-Manville's index

Johns-Manville's legal department indexed the Motley 1,000 in 1984. Its index describes this document as follows:

Document entitled "Proposal: Experimental Investigation of the Potential Carcinogenicity of Asbestos Fibers," made to the Air Hygiene Committee of ATI, by Dr. Gerrit Schepers (Saranac Lab), 2/15/55. Dr. Schepers' proposal is for a 3-year study of lab animals and primates exposed to crocidolite, amosite, chrysotile asbestos fibers. The primary purpose of the study is "to probe the very vexed question of the relationship of asbestos dust inhalation to the increasing discovery of lung cancer in man." Dr. Schepers stresses the importance of his study because "asbestos is used extensively all over the civilized world." He states that not only miners are exposed to asbestos, but also workers in many industries, including the textile, ceramic, constructional, brakeshoe, paper, and transit pipe industries. "Even certain cigarette filters are made from asbestos to shield off alleged carcinogens in tobacco tars!"

Related documents

• Asbestos Textile Institute Air Hygiene Committee Minutes and Proposal for Asbestosis Research (1955)

About this copy

This is document 877 of the Motley 1,000, from the set the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust's records facility certified as true copies, pages CRMC-Motley1000-Subj-004599 to CRMC-Motley1000-Subj-004616.