Libby Mesothelioma Cases on the Rise

An asbestos study, released in August 2008, suggests that residents of Libby, Montana will experience an increase in the number of asbestos-caused diseases such as mesothelioma cancer over the next 20 years.

Dr. Alan Whitehouse, author of the study, said that more of the town’s residents who have not worked directly with asbestos will start developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-caused lung diseases as a result of second hand exposure.

As part of the study, Whitehouse examined 11 mesothelioma victims who never worked with the toxic fibers, but instead developed the fatal disease as a result of environmental and second hand exposure.

“I think we are going to see more and more environmental cases — those are people that just lived here, and I don't think that it's going to be huge numbers of cases, so I don't think that the people of Libby should be personally alarmed,” said Whitehouse.

Libby Residents Affected by Vermiculite Mine

Libby has been named one of the worst asbestos contamination sites in U.S. history due to the town’s vermiculite mine. The mine, which is now closed, was home to vermiculite which contains tremolite asbestos. The toxic fibers released from the mine are responsible for more than 200 deaths and, according to Whitehouse’s study, many more.

Libby Officials Try to Keep Optimistic

Despite the negative cloud that has been looming over Libby, city officials are trying to build the economy back up and rejuvenate the town. The town will be undergoing asbestos cleanup which, according to Libby Mayor Tony Berget, will make Libby one of the cleanest, healthiest places to live.

"We have lost a lot of young families, and yet there have been a lot of people moving here, a lot of homes being built, I think it was 90 new septic systems put in the last year, and you take that over the last three to four there's quite an increase in the homes," said Berget. "We've been bouncing back and we have all been working together and trying to get things done and turn our economy around."

(Source: 8KPAX.com)

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