Posted on May 6, 2014
ABSTRACT: “Multiple pathway asbestos exposure assessment for a Superfund community in Libby, MT” published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology
Libby, MT was the home to workers at a historical vermiculite mining facility and served as the processing and distribution center for this industrial product that was contaminated with amphibole asbestos. This residential community is part of a Superfund site that has been declared a public health emergency by the Environmental Protection Agency. The exposure assessment approach presented in this study represents the first time that the various occupational and environmental Libby amphibole (LA) exposure pathways for this community have been integrated in a consistent manner. The importance of accurately representing both environmental and occupational Libby amphibole exposure in this population is two-fold. First, these exposure assessment measures will be applied to numerous health outcomes investigations that are forthcoming, including studies of autoimmune responses and pleural disease progression. Second, a comprehensive understanding of Libby amphibole exposure among this population is necessary for moving forward on risk assessment efforts for this community. The insidious nature of asbestos-related health effects suggests that outcomes assessment in the affected populations and associated risk assessment decisions will continue for decades.
Authors: Noonan CW, Conway K, Landguth EL, McNew T, Linker L, Pfau J, Black B, Szeinuk J, Flores R. Multiple pathway asbestos exposure assessment for a Superfund community. Journal Of Exposure Science And Environmental Epidemiology 23 April 2014; doi:10.1038/jes.2014.25.