 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Aubrey K. Miller, MD, MPH1, William Daniels, CIH2, and Christopher P. Weis, PhD, DABT1. (1) Senior Medical Officer & Toxicologist, US Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Region VIII; 8EPR-PS, 999 18th St., Suite 300, Denver, CO 80202-2466, 303-312-7023, miller.aubrey@epa.gov, (2) US Public Health Service, Region 8, 1960 Stout Street, Room 498, Denver, CO 80294
In November, 1999,EPA and PHS investigators responded to news reports describing widespread asbestos contamination and illness among residents of Libby, Montana associated with a former vermiculite mining operation. Vermiculite was mined and processed in the Libby area from the 1920's to 1990. During this time miners, their families, and other area residents were exposed to varying concentrations of amphibole asbestos that was co-located with the vermiculite ore, and mined incidentally to the vermiculite operations. Environmental investigations have found asbestos contamination in area homes, gardens, and school play areas. Recent evaluations of asbestosis mortality rates places Libby among the top in the nation. Treating physicians have reported rare, and very alarming, findings of non-occupationally acquired asbestos disease among area residents. Results of medical screening of over 7000 area residents indicated that overall about 20% had asbestos-related x-ray abnormalities, with a large percentage having no known occupational exposures. Additionally, asbestos-contaminated vermiculite was sent to over 200 processing facilities throughout the nation and used in products, such as thermal insulation, in millions of homes. Activities at this site have included large-scale environmental & residential remediations, several health studies, and facilitation of health care services for the community. This presentation will provide an overview of the collective multi-agency efforts, including a model collaborative project between EPA and the USPHS, to address this unprecedented public health disaster. Focus areas will include ongoing research efforts concerning environmental asbestos contamination, evaluations of health effects, and national implications.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Asbestos, Environmental Exposures
Related Web page: www.epa.gov/region08/superfund/libby/
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: US Environmental Protection Agency, US Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Health Resources & Services Administration, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, Montana Primary Care Association, Montana
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.