Older medical and safety books prove that companies should have known about the dangers of asbestos.
Industrial Dust (1936) by Philip Drinker & Theodore Hatch. Pathology of Asbestosis, Exposure to Asbestos Dust, Asbestosis Bodies, control of the dust hazard.
The Environment and Its Effect Upon Man (1937). Symposium at Harvard. Information about asbestos dust being toxic, asbestosis, & the cause of pneumoconiosis.
Industrial Dust (1955) by Philip Drinker & Theodore Hatch. Description of Asbestosis, Lung Cancer, & Asbestos Filters.
Origins of Human Cancer (1977) Chapter by Selikoff on "Cancer Risk of Asbestos Exposure." Chapter on Asbestos Standards. Section on "Bystander Disease" as it relates to the U.S. Navy shipyard mesothelioma problem.
Pathology of the Lung (1978)
This book has information about the occurrence of lung cancer among those handling asbestos. It cites several studies or reports, one of which is from 1935. This book also has a section on asbestosis.
Asbestos, Smoking and Disease (1982) Asbestos and asbestos-related diseases (including asbestosis and mesothelioma), and smoking and asbestos interactions.
Supervisors Safety Manual (1956) Asbestos caused occupational disease. Respirators to protect against asbestos dust. Asbestos use for protective clothing and in welding.