Amphibole asbestos in tree bark - a review of findings for this inhalational exposure source in Libby, Montana

Details

• Personal Author:
  Elashheb MI ; Hart JF ; Spear TM ; Ward TJ ; Webber JS
• Description:
  In June 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the town of Libby, Montana, a public health emergency-the first and only time the EPA has made such a determination under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). From about 1920 until 1990, the leading source of vermiculite ore for the United States and the world was from a mine near Libby. This vermiculite ore was contaminated with fibrous and asbestiform amphibole in veins throughout the deposit. Today, areas surrounding the abandoned vermiculite processing/ mining facilities and much of the town of Libby are contaminated with these asbestos fibers, contributing to an outbreak of asbestos-related diseases in the Libby population. Trees in Libby and in forested areas surrounding the abandoned mine have accumulated amphibole asbestos fibers on their bark surface, providing for inhalational exposures. Several studies have been conducted to further understand this exposure pathway. To address exposures to the public, Libby amphibole (LA) was measured in personal breathing zone and Tyvek surface wipe samples collected during firewood harvesting simulations, as well as in the ash and emissions of woodstoves when amphibole-contaminated firewood was combusted. Occupational studies simulating wildland firefighting and routine U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service activities have also been conducted in the forested areas surrounding the abandoned mine, demonstrating the potential for inhalational exposures during common regional workplace activities. We present a review of the findings of this emerging environmental health concern impacting not only the residents of Libby but applicable to other populations living near asbestos-contaminated areas. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asbestos Dust Environment Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollution Forestry Hazardous Substances Inhalation Exposure Inorganic Chemicals Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Public Health Safety

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• Keywords:
  Amphibole Asbestos-dust Asbestos-fibers Asbestos-mining Asbestosis Author Keywords: Asbestos Breathing-zone Environmental-contamination Environmental-exposure Environmental-hazards Environmental-health-monitoring Environmental-pollution Environmental-protection Exposure Exposure-assessment Fiber-deposition Fibrous-bodies Fibrous-dusts Hazardous-materials Hazardous-waste-cleanup Inhalants Libby Mining-industry Public-health Sampling Tree Bark

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Montana ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  387-397
• Volume:
  9
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20040931
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2012 Jun; 9(6):387-397
• Contact Point Address:
  Tony J. Ward, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812
• Email:
  tony.ward@umontana.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e6740ab39abc872addbbab7d5a721f22e9bb222f43c5c7bd18082457686ccb7583cc0c33e7f31c86e9009ddbacea18e22040667af0ddea7617fae35c1e14b236
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193624/cdc_193624_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 670.07 KB ]