South African Blue Asbestos Polluting the Lake Michigan Shoreline: History Meets Science.

Where History Means Knowledge. Be Informed.

South African Blue Asbestos Polluting the Lake Michigan Shoreline: History Meets Science.

I have completed my “final draft” proposal for my third thesis in my Master’s of History program at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. I have stated the research issue as follow:

The specific issue to be addressed in this thesis is the historic use of blue asbestos within the Johns-Manville Corporation manufacturing facility in Waukegan and the eventual migration of those fibers to potentially pollute the abutting shore of Lake Michigan. The manufacturing facility at issue was built in 1922 and would have started using their adjacent waste pond to dispose of the asbestos, among other pollutants, almost immediately. This dumping continued into the 1980s, with the area eventually being declared a Superfund site.”

I have attached the full proposal at https://theasbestosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Proposal-as-Submitted-292024.pdf.

The issues and questions to address within the research are:

  1. The historic state of the knowledge, and timing of that knowledge, by South African mines concerning the health hazards associated with downstream purchasers, such as Johns-Manville, using blue asbestos;
  2. The historic state of the knowledge, and timing of the knowledge, by Johns-Manville of the health hazards associated with its use of blue asbestos in the Waukegan manufacturing facility; and
  3. Did blue asbestos fibers migrate from the Johns-Manville facility to the lakeshore and, if so, are they still a health hazard to people and wildlife in the area, with a particular focus on the 4,160 acres Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park that includes swimming, boating, picnicking, hiking, fishing, and similar family friendly beach and water recreational activities?

As with all good history research projects, I don’t know the answers to the above, but I have seen competing claims and I am collecting both the primary source and secondary source material which will lead me in the correct direction. As of now, I have an amazing amount of materials that needs to be sorted and I have filed my first FOIA request — this one with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Also, as I state in the proposal:

“Science is often controversial, and sometimes inaccurate, when dealing with asbestos related issues. This concern, depending on the reports and what the research discovers or develops, may become a separate issue as the paper examines the potential existence of health hazards.”

Let me know what you think, or help me out if you have relevant information on the topic, either by leaving a comment or sending me an email at TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thanks. Marty