Radiographic abnormalities and exposure to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite in the community of Libby, Montana, USA.

Abstract

Mining, handling, processing, and personal or commercial use of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite have led to widespread contamination of the Libby, Montana, area. We initiated a medical testing program in response to reports of respiratory illness in the community. The purpose of this analysis was to identify and quantify asbestos-related radiographic abnormalities among persons exposed to vermiculite in Libby and to examine associations between these outcomes and participants' self-reported exposures. A cross-sectional interview and medical testing were conducted in Libby from July through November 2000 and from July through September 2001. A total of 7,307 persons who had lived, worked, or played in Libby for at least 6 months before 31 December 1990 completed the interview. Of those, 6,668 participants ≥ 18 years of age received chest radiographs to assess the prevalence of pleural and interstitial abnormalities. We observed pleural abnormalities in 17.8% of participants and interstitial abnormalities in < 1% of participants undergoing chest radiography. We examined 29 occupational, recreational, household, and other exposure pathways in the analysis. The prevalence of pleural abnormalities increased with increasing number of exposure pathways, ranging from 6.7% for those who reported no apparent exposures to 34.6% for those who reported ≥ 12 pathways. The factors most strongly associated with pleural abnormalities were being a former W.R. Grace worker, being older, having been a household contact of a W.R. Grace worker, and being a male. In addition to being a former W.R. Grace worker, environmental exposures and other nonoccupational risk factors were also important predictors of asbestos-related radiographic abnormalities.

Erionite exposure in North Dakota and Turkish villages with mesothelioma

“…In the past, similar situations have often gone unrecognized for many decades in part due to long latency periods, small exposed populations, and undiscerning surveillance systems. For example, widespread asbestos contamination and associated disease in the community of Libby, Montana, went unnoticed by public health officials until 1999, despite warning signs decades earlier (34). Area residents in ND have expressed skepticism about the potential for health effects from erionite exposures (35).…”

New Detoxification Processes for Asbestos Fibers in the Environment

“…2005; Pan et al, 2005;Dearwent et al, 2006;Van Gosen, 2007), following reports of multiple exposure scenarios, as noted in Libby, MT (USA) (Peipins et al, 2003;McDonald et al, 2004;Lee et al, 2008). Naturally occurring mineral fibers may be found both in large commercial deposits, close to active or abandoned mines, and in small noneconomic occurrences throughout the mountains (Lee et al, 2008).…”

Effect of a Two‐hour Training on Physicians' Skill in Interpreting Pneumoconiotic Chest Radiographs

“…Disease clusters of mesothelioma related to environmental exposure to asbestos have also been reported [2][3][4] . They include residences near asbestos or vermiculite mines and prolonged exposure in buildings with open sources of contamination 5) . Radiological imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of silicosis and asbestosis.…”