Scientists in the first half of the 20th century assured everyone that exposure to asbestos was harmless.
Let us not forget that the majority of "scientists" all believe that Carbon dioxide is causing catastrophic global warming.
I get the feeling that my nemesis on this thread is actually a genetic engineer and is on the payroll of Monsanto.
Yeah, we can count on him for an "objective opinion.
Actually I don't think anyone bothered to ask. From my standpoint, asbestos related lung disease is no worse or better than silicosis, black lung, or any of the myriad of respiratory problems suffered by people doing their jobs as assigned to them and many actually liking it.
I worked several tears in a steel foundry with no mandatory hearing or respiratory protections until 1989! This is long after the asbestos law suits. The company, and everyone there new it was dangerous and could make you sick down the road. people were informed of respiratory issues in sandblasting and related shipyard work in the 19th century, I know this for a fact.
Companies knew, people knew and nobody cared because it was a world full of risks and these issues were fairly minor compared to other diseases that you could not cure or control. Asbestos has been mined for 4000 years!
So add a little context to your disdain for companies and scientists that you seem to think made either a grievous error or were lying about it, because they were not. Nor were Tobacco companies intentionally trying to make their customers sick. Today it seems that everyone forgets that when you defend yourself against accusations of negligent homicide that you use words or phrases like "no evidence of danger" and the like in the courtroom. That does not mean they intentionally killed or gave their customer diseases for profit.
But today....everything is hyperbolic. Today it's all about using the most dramatic language and imagery to infer someone else is at fault for all the errors society makes. Nobody ever looks in the mirror.
It never crosses their mind. But it does mine.....