Federal agencies announce $8m study of libby asbestos exposure

The United States Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, announced this week in a press release the launch of the Libby Amphibole Health Risk Initiative, a series of projects created for the purposes of understanding the health effectives of low-level exposure to the asbestos found in Libby, Montana. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said, “My interest in Libby dates to the first of my visits with the people of that community with Senator Max Baucus, who deserves credit for his tireless and passionate work on behalf of that community. “Too little is currently known about exposure to lower levels of Libby asbestos. We hope this effort will expand our knowledge of potential and real health issues that could be facing this group of individuals.” The five-year initiative will cost $8 million, and will be jointly funded by the HSS Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the EPA. The study will focus on determine whether exposure to low levels of “Libby asbestos” increases the risk of developing lung disease, cancer, chronic illnesses, auto-immune diseases or other health problems. Currently, it is known that high level asbestos exposure can cause several types of cancer, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer, as well as chronic lung and upper respiratory conditions. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson said of the new initiative, “Since 1999, EPA has been working closely with the community of Libby to clean up contamination and reduce risks to human health. In collaboration with HHS, EPA will continue to help protect the health and well-being of the Libby residents.” The new project will ask for input and advice from residents and organizations in Libby, and will include the following features: • Comparison studies on people exposed to Libby asbestos during childhood, and people who weren’t, and their health status and conditions. • Extended evaluation of residents who were exposed to Libby asbestos, including people with differing levels of environmental exposure. • Assessment of the different types of adverse health effects that may result from exposure to Libby asbestos. • Continuation of a study by the HSS Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health which compares film and digital chest x-rays to determine which is best for diagnostic purposes. • Strengthening existing public health tracking systems such as the State Cancer Registry and patient health record databases to provide better links between exposure levels and expected health outcomes. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)