Anthony Lanza

Title: Anthony Lanza: A Key Figure in Asbestos Industry and Occupational Health

Introduction:
Dr. Anthony J. Lanza was a prominent physician and occupational health expert whose work significantly influenced the asbestos industry and its handling of health risks associated with asbestos exposure. While Lanza made notable contributions to the study of occupational diseases, his involvement with the asbestos industry has been criticized for aiding corporate efforts to downplay the dangers of asbestos. His actions and affiliations have had lasting implications for asbestos-related litigation, public health, and corporate accountability.

Historical Background:
Anthony Lanza began his career in public health as a physician with the U.S. Public Health Service in 1907, eventually becoming Chief Surgeon to the Bureau of Mines in 1914. He gained recognition as an expert in pneumoconiosis, a group of lung diseases caused by inhaling dust, including asbestosis. In 1926, Lanza joined the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, where he conducted studies on occupational diseases, including asbestos-related illnesses.

Lanza’s work in the 1930s was pivotal in identifying the health risks of asbestos exposure. For example, his medical survey of asbestos miners in Quebec revealed a high prevalence of asbestosis among workers. However, Lanza’s reluctance to publish these findings and his willingness to edit reports at the request of asbestos industry lawyers have been widely criticized. In one instance, Lanza altered a study to downplay the severity of asbestosis, enabling companies to lobby against recognizing the disease as compensable under workers' compensation laws.

Lanza was also a founding member of the Industrial Hygiene Foundation (IHF), an organization funded by industrial interests, including asbestos companies. The IHF conducted confidential studies and provided services to industries seeking to manage occupational health risks while minimizing liability.

Legal and Scientific Context:
Lanza’s work intersects with asbestos law, occupational safety, and medical science in several ways:

Lawsuits and Legislation: Lanza’s studies and reports have been used as evidence in asbestos-related lawsuits, both to demonstrate corporate knowledge of asbestos hazards and to highlight efforts to suppress or manipulate scientific findings. His involvement in editing reports to favor industry interests has been cited in cases alleging corporate negligence and cover-ups.
Scientific Findings: While Lanza contributed to early research on asbestosis, his reluctance to publish unfavorable findings and his compliance with industry demands undermined the scientific integrity of his work. This has had long-term consequences for the recognition and regulation of asbestos-related diseases.
Corporate Practices: Lanza’s collaboration with asbestos companies, including his role in shaping industry-friendly narratives, exemplifies the broader pattern of corporate efforts to conceal the dangers of asbestos.

Impact and Modern Relevance:
Anthony Lanza’s legacy is a complex one. On the one hand, his early research helped establish the link between asbestos exposure and lung diseases. On the other hand, his actions in support of the asbestos industry have made him a controversial figure in the history of occupational health.

Today, Lanza’s work is often referenced in asbestos litigation as evidence of the industry’s long-standing knowledge of asbestos hazards and its attempts to suppress this information. His involvement underscores the importance of transparency and ethical conduct in occupational health research.

Example or Case Study:
In the 1930s, Lanza conducted a study on asbestos miners in Quebec, finding that 42 out of 195 miners had asbestosis. However, he chose not to publish these findings, citing concerns about potential lawsuits. Later, at the request of Johns-Manville’s corporate counsel, Lanza edited a report to downplay the severity of asbestosis, which was then used to lobby against recognizing the disease as compensable under New Jersey workers' compensation laws. This case highlights how Lanza’s work was used to shield companies from liability at the expense of worker safety.