Libby Asbestos

In response to local concern and news articles about asbestos-contaminated vermiculite, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 sent an Emergency Response Team to Libby, Montana in late November 1999.  The Team immediately began assessing the situation and collecting information.

EPA's first priority is to determine if there is a current risk to public health from asbestos-contaminated vermiculite in Libby and, if there is, to take the necessary actions to reduce or eliminate these risks.

To this end, in December 1999 the EPA team collected nearly 700 samples (air, soil, dust, insulation).  In January, we released the indoor air sample results — first to property owners and then to the media and general public.  In March, we collected more samples from area residences and released the soil, dust and insulation sample results to the public.  In April, more samples were collected.  The indoor air results should be available in May 2000.  Depending on the type of analysis used, the soil, dust and insulation will be available in June at the earliest (using Polarized Light Microscopy), possibly as late as August 2000 (using Scanning Electron Microscopy).

EPA is working closely with local, state and other federal agencies, including: the City of Libby, Lincoln County Commissioners and the Department of Environmental Health; the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ); the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS); and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

EPA is also concerned about the possible community exposures and health effects seen in people with little or no association with the vermiculite mine in Libby.  EPA is working closely with local, state and federal agencies to piece together this puzzle of how people have come into contact with asbestos-contaminated vermiculite and what can be done to prevent future exposures — in Libby and elsewhere..

History

Vermiculite was discovered in Libby, Montana in 1881 by gold miners and then in 1919 Edward Alley discovered its unique properties.  In the 1920s the Zonolite Company formed and began mining vermiculite.  In 1963, W.R. Grace bought the Zonolite mining operations.  The Mine closed in 1990.  While in operation, the vermiculite mine in Libby may have produced 80% of the world's supply of vermiculite.  Vermiculite has been used in building insulation and as a soil conditioner.  Unfortunately, the vermiculite from the Libby mine was contaminated with a toxic form of naturally-occurring asbestos called tremolite-actinolite asbestiform mineral fibers.

Asbestos-related disease

Asbestosis is a restrictive lung disease which can be fatal.  In addition, exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer and a cancer of the lung lining called mesothelioma.  While lung cancer has a number of associated causes, asbestosis and mesothelioma are uniquely associated with exposure to asbestos.  The combination of smoking and exposure to asbestos greatly increases the risk of developing of lung cancer.  We are most concerned about people being exposed to airborne asbestos and breathing in the tiny fibers.

ATSDR has additional information on asbestos exposure and its effects in Libby.

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