New data has asbestos exposure surprises for epa

Libby, Montana â€" New data from the Environmental Protection Agency suggests that the soil in Libby, Montana is a significant potential source of vermiculite exposure for residents. This conclusion may cause the EPA to redefine how it assesses contamination risks for sites undergoing remediation, and to redefine what it considers to be a “clean” site. The results of the research have been surprising to many people. The data suggests that the main site of asbestos exposure for Libby locals is actually right outside their homes, and that levels of indoor exposure are probably coming from tracking vermiculite in from outside locations. However, the EPA stresses that the data they gained from the study doesn’t apply to homes where asbestos has been disturbed, or where asbestos is not well contained within discrete areas of the home. Paul Peronard, an EPA On-Site Coordinator says, “This is a powerful data set. It will help us define the first part of endgame.” Meaning, it will help the EPA define what constitutes a clean site, and what needs to be done to make a site clean. The investigation carried out on Libby exposure measured asbestos exposure levels for a range of both indoor and outdoor activities, from watching TV to mowing the lawn. The EPA tested these activities at a range of different locations, including both clean and un-treated sites. Testers were equipped with air filters near their chests that collected airborne samples, to approximate the types of airborne particles participants would be exposed to. Many community residents have long been questioning how site risk is assessed in the town of Libby. The Environmental Protection Agency hopes that they new data they’ve gained will help in answering those questions. For example, they hope the data may answer questions such as whether a property with heavily vermiculite-contaminated soil is more or less an exposure risk than a home where asbestos is sealed within its walls. Another important conclusion from the data is that the EPA now believes that tracking down and removing “visible vermiculite” is even more important. In addition, the report suggests that simply walking around Libby does not exposed people to large amounts of asbestos. Unfortunately, however, while the data have produced some useful conclusions, it also demonstrates that the EPA may have serious problems in determining how successful its remediation efforts are. Variables such as wind direction, vegetation cover, and soil moisture could all affect the outcome of the tests. Another problem is that the data does not factor in “background asbestos” or the fact that asbestos that was naturally present and separate from the mine had already exposed Libby residents to vermiculite. As a next step, the U.S. Geological Survey plans to carry out a study of local sites to try and determine whether or not vermiculite contamination has been partly due to natural causes. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)