According to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization that researches health issues, internal corporate documents such as the one quoted above conclusively prove
that many companies in the asbestos industry knew and hid the lethal dangers of asbestos from employees and consumers for decades. In a 1949 document, Exxon admitted that asbestos exposure causes lung cancer, silicosis, fibrosis and erythema. This admission was contained in a document labeled "CONFIDENTIAL."

National Gypsum, another company in the asbestos industry, stated the following in a 1958 memo:
". . . perhaps the greatest hazard in your plant is with men handling asbestos. Because just as certain as death and taxes is the fact that if you nhale asbestos dust, you get asbestosis."
Several other internal corporate documents at various companies in the asbestos industry show that the companies were aware of the lethal dangers of asbestos and were actively hiding those dangers. In many cases, these documents were exposed during the course of asbestos lawsuits.

Placing profits over people is unjust

Johns-Manville, a company that was involved in the manufacture of asbestos-containing products placed profits over people like many other companies in the asbestos industry. A memo from Johns-Manville's medical director to the company's headquarters stated the following:

"The fibrosis of this disease is irreversible . . . so that eventually compensation will be paid to each of these men. But, as long as the man is not disabled, . . . he should not be told of his condition so that he can live and work in peace and the company can benefit by his many years of experience."

Asbestos was used in a wide range of products such as roofing, piping, insulation, floor tiles and brake pads. Therefore, tragically, many companies in the asbestos industry were unwilling to discontinue the use of asbestos even for the sake of protecting human life.