Rapid American - Philip Carey Mft. Co.

September 23, 1963
"The question has been raised within the company as to why medical problems relating to cancer and asbestos were not recognized before. Actually, they were recognized, but the asbestos industry chose to ignore and deny their existence...

A second more basic reason for the lack of recognition of the [asbestos] problem was that there was no planned, intelligent medical surveillance program to detect what was happening to the workers over the years,...There was no desire to recognize the problem because of workmen's compensation implications.

A third reason is the long latent period from the time of exposure to the development of cancer: Now, after 25 to 30 years, ... there will be an increasing number of cases... It will be difficult to disprove that asbestos exposure did not occur for those who develop cancer. It is evident that an occupational cancer problem has existed [at two Philip Carey] plants." Dr. Thomas Mancuso, Occupational Health Program Report, The Philip Carey Manufacturing Co.

October 26, 1964
"There is an irrefutable association between asbestos and cancer. This association has been established for cancer of the lung and for mesothelioma. There is suggestive evidence... for cancer of the stomach, colon and rectum, also. There is substantial evidence that cancer and mesothelioma have developed in environmentally exposed groups, i.e., due to air pollution for groups living near asbestos plants and mines. Evidence has been established for cancer developing among members of the household. Mesotheliomas have developed among wives, laundering the work clothes of asbestos workers. Substantial evidence has been presented that slight and intermittent exposures may be sufficient to produce lung cancer and mesothelioma. There should be no delusion that the problem will disappear or that the consumer or working population will not become aware of the problem and the compensation and legal liability involved." Dr. Mancuso letter to Philip Carey's actuary, John Cantlon.

NOTE: Soon after the above letter, Philip Carey terminated their relationship with Dr. Mancuso.

Rapid American Knowledge of Health Hazards

Unbelievable document

Author: Reiser to M Prus Date: 4/14/77

QUOTE: I got very strong reactions in Japan to our requirement to translate the Tampa Text Label into Japanese and print it on all the bags.

Confidentially the Kakiuchi staff told me that they have deliberately left the word cancer from the text because this must not even be mentioned in Japan in connection with asbestos. Altogether they are against a warning label because they do not wish to raise problems with the workers. They are already attaching a label on each bag according to Japanese law ...

Kakiuchi are of the opinion that we cannot impose American law on foreign countries in general and on Japan in particular. Listening to customers around the world I second this statement. I do not believe that we should raise problems with people who are more primitive than we are or less educated. We cannot, in all cases, impose American standards on other people.