Waiting for the Body Count

Corporate Decision Making and Bladder Cancer in the U.S. Dye Industry

Datos Bibliográficos

ID7199851
AutoresDavid Michaels (0000-0001-8558-7733, autor de correspondencia)
Año1988
Volumen2
Número3
Páginas215-232
Fecha de publicación1988-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaMedical Anthropology Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0745-5194 • E-ISSN: 1548-1387
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1525/maq.1988.2.3.02a00030
OpenAlexW2046729509
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas10
Referencias citadas17

Scientists in Europe determined in the early part of the 20th century that beta‐naphthylamine (BNA) and benzidine, two chemicals widely used in the production of dyes, were potent bladder carcinogens. Yet the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about occupational bladder cancer had little impact on U.S. dye producers with regard to protecting the health of workers in their employ. As a result, hundreds of workers developed bladder cancer. This case study explores the worker protection policies of four U.S. dye manufacturers and demonstrates that these corporations allowed uncontrolled exposure to occur until the human cost became so obvious that it was no longer possible to ignore. These data underscore the limitations of voluntary corporate compliance with workplace health and safety regulation, and suggest the need for more active governmental involvement in the dissemination of technical information to employers, unions, and the public

Benzidine · Bladder cancer · Business · Cancer · Political science · Public relations · Chemistry · Medicine · Regulation and Compliance Studies · Internal Medicine