Asbestos in World War II and Asbestos-Containing Pipe: Boy, was I Ignorant
As many of you know, I have my oral defense of my three theses on October 4th and am working to be fully prepared and ready to go. When done, I start looking at PhD programs in history related to toxic minerals in the workplace. Looking at my blogs, I really messed up not doing a thesis on the use of asbestos during and in World War II; there is just so much historical documentation that it would have been a great thesis. I have several blogs dealing with amosite from South Africa, post-war investigations by the British intelligence service, the use of asbestos on military ships, the building of Liberty Ships, etc.
This blog involves the use of Asbestos-Containing Pipe to help London during the bombing. Specifically, my research this past week at the Smithsonian provided historical documentation that came at me from left field and was fascinating. Take the publication by Johns-Manville about the London bombing on the prior day. Look at the following:
I often take shots at Johns-Manville, most definitely deserved by its management and conduct, but I like to think that this brochure shows that even a company like Johns-Manville employ people with a heart and an acknowledgment of a duty to help. This material was a magnificent find.
Let me know what you think either by leaving a comment or sending me an email at TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thanks. Marty
10 Responses
Even today many museums still display WW2 equipment with asbestos. I’ve seen aircraft, tanks, artillery pieces, tractors all with asbestos. Only a few weeks ago I went to a maritme/military museum and there was a machinegun with asbestos ammo feed belt on display and a marine diesel engine with asbestos wrapping to the turbo charger pipes.
I really should have done a thesis on asbestos use during WW II, and how the legacy lives today. There is so much to work from.
I don’t see any project monitors amongst the rubble?
Um, what is a project monitor? I do wonder whether the repaired asbestos-containing pipe remains today in the repaired areasl
A Project Monitor (USA) is a licensed person who takes air samples during demos. They also do monitoring at removals.
I can only imagine the horrors the people pictured were going through.
Great find – thanks for sharing !
It was really cool and out of the blue. No warning as I put down the prior document and picked this one up. I am more convinced than ever that we need to use digitalization and AI to better educate on the history and legacies.
Good luck on the defenses. When you start looking at sources of toxic metals in the workplace, I can give you some stories.
One sad point is even with surviving a war many came home to die from asbestos. Most from libby mt who went into the military and came home only to suffer and die from asbestos exposure prior to enlisting..no one won no war that this government allowed to die without being shot. Such times we all have lived in.
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