Dr. Kenneth W. Smith to N. W. Hendry, "Asbestos versus Cancer" (1965)

A one-page memo of June 16, 1965, from Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, J-M's medical director, to N. W. Hendry of the Asbestos Fibre Division, answering a May 20 inquiry headed "Asbestos versus Cancer." Smith wrote that "a considerable amount of unnecessary publicity" had followed a study of two groups of insulation workers, and that he did not believe "the so-called facts which were reported are basically correct": the men were called "asbestos workers" only because they belonged to the Asbestos Workers Union, and the report "simply blamed everything on the asbestos fiber." He added, "I personally do not believe that there is a serious health hazard associated with the use of asbestos."

What it shows

Smith rested his view on more than 20 years of watching over 2,000 employees at J-M's mine and mill in Quebec, where, he wrote, "we have no lung cancer or other serious health problems," and on his belief that with reasonable precautions "no health problem will exist." The study he described is evidently Dr. Irving Selikoff's work on New York and New Jersey insulators. The same argument about "so-called 'asbestos workers'" reappears in J-M's 1966 position paper.

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 N.W. Hendry (AFD, Asbestos), 6/16/65. Dr. Smith states that he disagrees with the results of the recent study of two groups of insulation workers (presumably the Selikoff report) which has caused "a considerable amount of unnecessary publicity" concerning asbestos in the news.

Dr. Smith's main problem with the report is that the men examined, who were called "asbestos workers," were men who belonged to the asbestos workers union, a group of men who are exposed to asbestos fiber along with other potentially toxic materials. The report "simply blamed everything on the asbestos fiber."

Dr. Smith does not believe that there is a serious health hazard associated with the use of asbestos. He bases his opinion on the fact that he has worked in the asbestos industry for over 20 years and has seen no indication that an extensive health hazard exists. He has observed over 2,000 employees at the Asbestos mine and mill for over 20 years and he has seen no lung cancer or other serious health problems. "It is my belief that when reasonable precautions are taken in the handling of the fiber and satisfactory working conditions are maintained, no health problem will exist."