Scientists exploring the Northeast Atlantic have directly observed heavily corroded barrels of radioactive waste. Some are in bad shape. Material has even spilled onto the seafloor nearly three…
Asbestos is an amazing mineral. It is phenomenal as a fire retardant material, which is why it got so widespread. It took time and studies for us to truly understand exactly what the repercussions to using it are, and then implement appropriate controls (and phase it out). Similar with leaded gasoline (although maybe less so, depending on how complicit the oil companies were).
In any case, with all three of these things, it’s not like we instantly knew how bad for us and the environment they are and how to appropriately handle them. There’s a very constant iterative process to improving safety standards. Those barrels were likely dumped in the sea because we knew the contents could be harmful to humans. We neglected the environmental impacts because those weren’t as highly prioritized, studied, or cared about. Processes change over time, and huge progress is seldom realized overnight.
Just like the oil companies knew about the effects of burning oil would have on the global climate. The Abestos industry absolutely knew the dangers for a very long time. So again. They do not care if it means less money to be made.
I see a lot of “allegedly” in that article without any resolution. The government claims the companies knew since the 30s, but they say otherwise, and the article doesn’t seem to include proof either way. I’m not surprised the government would allege that either, as the alternative is yet more evidence of how poorly run NNSY was (and frankly still is).
As an anecdote, we still find asbestos on ships built in that era. It’ll be another several decades until we stop finding it.
Obviously a article on a new lawsuit would say ‘allegedly’ because the case was still ongoing at the time…
Also, it shouldnt suprise anyone the government from trying to shift blame when they knew it was dangerous long before then as well. Simply they could no longer keep covering up the huge mess they made. Doesnt mean their facts were wrong, but simply omitted themselves from them.
Asbestos is an amazing mineral. It is phenomenal as a fire retardant material, which is why it got so widespread. It took time and studies for us to truly understand exactly what the repercussions to using it are, and then implement appropriate controls (and phase it out). Similar with leaded gasoline (although maybe less so, depending on how complicit the oil companies were).
In any case, with all three of these things, it’s not like we instantly knew how bad for us and the environment they are and how to appropriately handle them. There’s a very constant iterative process to improving safety standards. Those barrels were likely dumped in the sea because we knew the contents could be harmful to humans. We neglected the environmental impacts because those weren’t as highly prioritized, studied, or cared about. Processes change over time, and huge progress is seldom realized overnight.
Just like the oil companies knew about the effects of burning oil would have on the global climate. The Abestos industry absolutely knew the dangers for a very long time. So again. They do not care if it means less money to be made.
Would love to see proof of this, rather than just conjecture.
https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/14/archives/suit-weighs-liability-on-asbestos-peril-to-workers-precedent-on.html
I see a lot of “allegedly” in that article without any resolution. The government claims the companies knew since the 30s, but they say otherwise, and the article doesn’t seem to include proof either way. I’m not surprised the government would allege that either, as the alternative is yet more evidence of how poorly run NNSY was (and frankly still is).
As an anecdote, we still find asbestos on ships built in that era. It’ll be another several decades until we stop finding it.
Obviously a article on a new lawsuit would say ‘allegedly’ because the case was still ongoing at the time…
Also, it shouldnt suprise anyone the government from trying to shift blame when they knew it was dangerous long before then as well. Simply they could no longer keep covering up the huge mess they made. Doesnt mean their facts were wrong, but simply omitted themselves from them.
https://www.asbestos.com/featured-stories/cover-up/
Considering its still legal in some applications…