Dr. Kenneth Smith to J. M. Gadway on a Medical Communications Program at Lompoc (1959)

A two-page memo of January 9, 1959, from Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, Johns-Manville's medical director, to J. M. Gadway at J-M's diatomaceous earth plant at Lompoc, California, backing Gadway's plan "to offer employees factual medical information concerning potential dust and health hazards" at the plant. Smith outlined the history: "In the early 1940's, we recognized that occupational pulmonary disease could be associated with inhalation of our dust," but the Saranac Laboratory's tests of natural powders "reported no disease production" about 1945, which "thoroughly confused our management and their doctors, for employees definitely were developing a disabling pulmonary disease." Only about 1950 or 1951 was the disease tied to cristobalite in the calcined products.

What it shows

Smith told Gadway it "probably would not be necessary to go into much detail concerning the history of the dust problem." He pointed to the latest X-ray review (401 of 514 employees with negative films and 17 with coalescent disease "which some day may cause disability") as proof "that we have no serious disease problem," adding that no new cases were developing. He suggested mentioning J-M's work with the U.S. Public Health Service, whose report on the industry had just been published (Pneumoconiosis in Diatomite Mining and Processing). Four months earlier he had asked that results of lung function tests at Lompoc not be reported until J-M discussed them (September 1958 memo).

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Dr. K.W. Smith memorandum to J.M. Gadway (Lompoc), 1/9/59, regarding Gadway's plans to offer Lompoc employees factual medical information concerning potential dust and health hazards at the plant. Dr. Smith supports Gadway's plans for such a program and suggests that the following information be passed on to the employees. In the early 1940's, J-M recognized that occupational pulmonary disease could be associated with the inhalation of diatomaceous earth dust. J-M spent considerable time and money in consultation with experts and on animal experiments.

It was not until about 1950 or 1951 that J-M first was able to associate the disease with the conversion of amorphous silica in natural powders to crystobalite in the calcined products. Plans were then made to control dust and disease, and the USPHS was requested to help. The result of these efforts is reflected in the good health of J-M's employees today. For the past 4 or 5 years, Dr. Smith has annually reviewed each employee's chest X-rays and prepared a report of the data with reference to length of service. Last year, 401 out of 514 employees had negative X-rays, which proves that Lompoc does not have a serious disease problem. There are only 17 cases with coalescent disease which some day may cause disability. "The most significant fact, however, is that we are developing no new cases today and there has been practically no progression of diseases on X-ray."