August 2, 2025: Asbestos Projects of Interest

As I consider how to structure my History PhD student projects, I want to ensure that I stay focused on asbestos related issues as much as possible. As such, I will periodically publish those projects that keep my feet to the ground and direct me to my ultimate goal; that is, locate and disseminate asbestos history education with the desire for anyone with an interest to use this information to help minimize illnesses and deaths.

The below list is my starting point, not in any particular order. Please feel free to email me with additional suggestions.

1. Historical knowledge on asbestos dangers, and the timing of such information. Tracking the knowledge and timing that asbestos could cause injury and death, including in low exposure applications, I start with the reprint from the AMA titled Asbestosis: Report of Two Cases, dated 1931 on page 9-10 that states “This demonstrates that the symptoms of a pneumokoniosis may come on years after a short exposure and emphasizes again the absolute necessity for wearing masks in even the less dusty atmospheres.”

Let’s say that once more in context: As of 1931, the medical community through the AMA was recommending as a “absolute necessity” that even lower end exposure to asbestos use required effective masks. Of course, by that time frame, Johns-Manville had already received in 1928 a dozen asbestosis lawsuits arising from its Manville, New Jersey facility These cases were settled in a group during 1932 for $30,000 and a confidentiality agreement. I believe that some evidence exists that known dangers existed as early as 1918, but I only possess hearsay without documentation at the current time. Add in by fiber type, size, and diameter. Also include engineering books from the 1900s that show value but not danger.

2. Full history back to historic times. Most discussions on history are very incomplete. Let’s do it once and done as much as reasonably possible

3. Continue research on beaches/nature, and similar asbestos waste scenarios with the waste migrating outside the manufacturing facilities

4. Continue research on shipping and shipbreaking laborers

5. Patents, trademarks, and other IP in table or spreadsheet providing all relevant information

6. Investigate fiber size and diameter, and how that comes into play in historical research, such as the 1986 Challenger tragedy

7. Comparative law/rules/exposure analysis, probably 5 to 10 venues

8. Asbestiform versus asbestos, including difference and how it arose and the exposure hazard to non-asbestos asbestiform mineral.

9. Climate change risks including more salt wedges where fresh water contacts salt water, focusing on asbestos-cement in the area being eroded earlier.

10. Consider joining historical and scientific organization which currently either (1) do not do much on asbestos or (2) leads in asbestos analysis based on the quality of the work

11. Listing of global document repositories

12. Listing of people and organizations involved in asbestos

13. Ships and ocean going vessels, including anticipated asbestos based on construction and class of vehicles

14. World War II asbestos, and issues such as South Africa, quality of weapons, etc

15. 1929 NY Library Reference of 1554 documents: sort out collecting and using on all outstanding issues, including what was known about asbestos to engineers, doctors, and in the trade literature prior to 1930. Same with Smithsonian, National Archivies, other countries, etc. in order to support or fill in gaps

16. Change in historical documents of ingestion risk

17. History of bad science

18. Asbestos exposure from roofs losing fibers in rainstorms or wind, and getting into or on the ground

19 Teaching on asbestos — how and when in order to maximize education

20. History of asbestos lawsuits. Such as the dozen in Manville, NJ filed in 1928 and settled in 1932 for $30,000

21. International asbestos meetings as contained in the summaries, cover memos, and minutes

22. USGS, EPA and other US government documents

23. Collective government or quasi-governmental documents and publication

24. List asbestos-containing products as best possible on information. Many people say 3000 such products, but ambiguous on multi-manufacturers of those products.

25. Genomes, but this is a low priority for me as (1) very little historical material exist and (2) a lot of researchers who are smarter than me are already given this issue attention

26. Team work. Help providing historical information to anyone who asks. Extend and work with academics, professionals, and those who otherwise are interested

27. Potential research paper for U.S. pre-1865 course: Track power generation from slaves to labor, to pulleys, to steam, all as asbestos was up and coming, and show why and how asbestos was positioned even prior to the Civil War as a significant part of the industrial revolution.

I am sure that other issues will come up, but the above listed categories would be a good start on educating both those in charge and those who are exposed.

Let me know what you think and if you would like to help by leaving a comment or sending me an email at TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thanks. Marty