Trees as Reservoirs for Amphibole Fibers in Libby, Montana

Details

• Personal Author:
  Getman M ; Hart J ; Holian A ; Noonan C ; Spear T ; Ward TJ ; Webber JS
• Description:
  Tree bark and core samples were collected from areas surrounding the asbestos-contaminated vermiculite mine in Libby, MT. These samples were collected to provide preliminary data in support of a proposed study to determine if trees can serve as reservoirs for amphibole fibers and to determine if there is a potential for exposure to those that harvest contaminated wood in the Libby mine area, specifically during firewood harvesting and commercial logging. Initially, three sets of samples were taken both within and directly outside of the EPA restricted area surrounding the mine site. Based on the results of the initial samples, a follow-up sampling program was conducted both in the town of Libby and directly outside the city limits. Gravimetric reduction of a tree core sample did not indicate the presence of amphibole fibers. However, transmission electron microscopy analysis of bark samples collected near the vermiculite mine yielded substantial amphibole fiber concentrations ranging from 41 million to 530 million fibers/g of bark. In addition, a bark sample collected approximately 7 miles west of the town next to a railroad line had concentrations of 19 million fibers/g. A conversion of these mass-based concentrations to areal concentrations (to reflect surface area contamination) revealed concentrations in excess of 100 million amphibole fibers/cm2. These preliminary results suggest that trees in the Libby valley and along vermiculite shipping corridors can serve as reservoirs for amphibole fibers, and that a potential for exposure exists for those who harvest contaminated wood. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asbestos Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Forestry Inorganic Chemicals Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Amphibole Asbestos Fibers Author Keywords: Libby Electron Microscopy Environmental Contamination Environmental Exposure Fibers Logging Industry Montana Tree Bark Vermiculite

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• ISSN:
  0048-9697
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• 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:
  460-465
• Volume:
  367
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056167
• Citation:
  Sci Total Environ 2006 Aug; 367(1):460-465
• Contact Point Address:
  Tony J. Ward, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States
• Email:
  tony.ward@umontana.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Amphibole-group minerals (CAS RN 1318-09-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• Performing Organization:
  Montana Technological University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Science of the Total Environment
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:012ea9c3d5d568a3e88419acd3eec49016a03e7c9913bbf86d4bca3ee7bfdd02f6b1c5b50cdc9a5ef8eefc1a148de44ca313a5ed06574ddc875b80b6a2a502c7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213824/cdc_213824_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 411.01 KB ]