As the Cold War recedes into the last century, the occupational health problems resulting from nuclear weapons production and research are just now being looked at in the light of day. With the continued use of beryllium in civilian enterprises, it is especially important to critically examine the epistemology of chronic beryllium disease (CBD) and its place in the larger sphere of the corporate role in conducting research on science and occupational health. Using hitherto unreleased documents from the government, domestic and foreign beryllium manufacturers, we explore the history of who knew what when about chronic beryllium disease, and how corporations, the government and scientists used that knowledge to control research and suppress knowledge about CBD. While the current increase in the corporate funding and control of research is being discussed in scientific circles, we use the beryllium example will explore the how corporate scientists and so-called independent researchers have responded to these pressures in the past and how that response has shaped the field of occupational health and industrial medicine today.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify the models used by corporations to influence and suppress knowledge about occupational diseases; 2. Articulate an overview of the history of beryllium production and knowledge of chronic beryllium disease; 3. Discuss the politics of industrial disease in a national security state.
Keywords: Occupational Injury and Death,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.