A Case Study in Unethical Conduct of Physicians and Hygienists at a Shipyard

Newport News Shipyard, in Newport News, Virginia, misrepresented the dangers of asbestos exposure to their workers from 1930 to the present. We describe what was known when about the risks, preventive measures and actual injuries to shipyard workers, their families and community residents. Beginning in 1930 information was available to the Newport News Shipyard concerning asbestos heath effects and control measures. The workers, however, were not told of the toxicity and dangers of asbestos at the shipyard, even after many of them and their family members had already contracted lung disease or mesothelioma. Physicians and Industrial Hygienists were aware of evidence of the grave effects of take home exposure and intentionally permitted these secondary exposures to occur. It was believed, by the management of the shipyard, that if the workers were told of the danger they would walk off the job, compromising the profits of the company and industry. Contrary to what they should have done, the management told the workers there was no danger from exposure and they could for example, “eat asbestos.” The workers subsequently often went home, covered in dust, exposing their families; Newport News, Virginia thus has one of the highest death rates of wives and children related to asbestos exposure in the country. Management intervened to prevent several industrial hygienists from informing workers of risks and control measures. They never went public with their concerns.