Libby dry mill in operation (plant has since been closed)
Confirmation of Asbestos-Related
Of the 353 participants, 55 are former vermic-
ulite mine or processing workers, 99 are work-
Abnormalities Among Patients
ers' household members, and 199 are people
from Libby, Montana: An Interim
reporting contact with vermiculite through rec-
reational activities. The CT scans were per-
Report on the Pilot Study of
formed in Libby and reviewed by three national
Environmental Cases
experts in the evaluation of CT scans. Following
A referral pulmonologist has evaluated more
the CT scan review, 128 participants were
than 200 patients from the Libby area for
notified that they had medical problems that
asbestos-related disease. Most of these patients
required immediate attention. Results letters
are former employees of the mining operation
were sent to the remaining participants and if
or their household contacts. However, several
consent were given, to their physicians. The
patients are believed to have an asbestos-related
study data will be analyzed in fiscal year 2002.
disease as a result of environmental (nonoccu-
pational) exposure. If these cases are valid, the
number of former and current Libby residents
who are at risk for asbestos-related disease may
be much higher than previously thought.
ATSDR is currently conducting a pilot study of
these patients who have had no occupational-
related exposure to asbestos. These cases are
46 chapter 3