Feds to study asbestos exposure

Thu., June 12, 2008

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

HELENA – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday announced a five-year, $8 million study aimed at understanding the health effects of low-level exposure to asbestos.

The Libby Amphibole Health Risk Initiative will focus on determining whether such exposure is associated with increased risk of lung disease, cancer, chronic illnesses, autoimmune diseases or other health problems, the agencies said.

Asbestos contamination from a now-closed vermiculite mine near Libby has been blamed for killing more than 200 people and sickening hundreds more.

The initiative, funded by the EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, will include a series of projects and studies.

One study will compare film and digital chest X-rays to determine which is best for assessing the lungs. Another will compare the health of people who were exposed to Libby asbestos in childhood to the health of people who weren’t.

Researchers have determined that long-term exposure to high levels of asbestos is associated with lung cancer, serious lung disease and upper respiratory health conditions. But too little is known about exposure to lower levels of Libby asbestos, said Mike Leavitt, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

“We hope this effort will expand our knowledge of potential and real health issues that could be facing this group of individuals,” he said. Leavitt and EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson both have visited the northwest Montana town with Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

Baucus said the initiative was good news “for not only folks in Libby, but people across the country and our efforts to help with the negative effects of asbestos exposure.”

Baucus requested the funding in an April letter to the EPA. “These dollars will go a long way toward helping us recover from the tragedy in Libby,” he said.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., also lauded the initiative, calling it an “investment for victims, their families and for future generations.”

Officials said the initiative will seek advice from Libby residents and organizations, and also will include:

•An expanded evaluation of Libby residents who were exposed to asbestos.

•An assessment of whether the health problems related to asbestos exposure extend beyond lung disease.

•Improvements to public health tracking systems and patient health record databases, to better link exposure information to health conditions.

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