01. When Contamination Occurred
When Did Asbestos Contamination in Libby Occur?
Asbestos contamination occurred in the Libby, Montana vermiculite mine from the 1920s to 1990.
ver石开采始于利比（Libby）Montanain the 1920s when the Zonolite Company formed. Zonolite continued mining until acquisition by W.R. Grace in 1963. W.R. Grace maintained the operations until the Libby mine closed in 1990.
ver石is a mineral that occurs naturally near asbestos. Natural mineral deposits (such as vermiculite and talc) can easily become contaminated with asbestos due to their proximity.
Although the contaminated mine was in use primarily throughout the 1900s, exposure is still a concern. Vermiculite was mined for use inbuilding insulation，，，，potting soil and fertilizer. While the mine isn’t in use today, products contaminated withasbestosfrom the Libby mine are still in use. For example, manyolder homes整个美国都包含ver虫的绝缘材料。令人不安的产品会导致疾病，例如万博专业版间皮瘤癌。
“While in operation, the Libby mine may have produced 80 percent of the world’s supply of vermiculite.”
02. Libby中的石棉类型
What Type of Asbestos Contaminated the Libby Mine?
Libby Mines中的ver石被闪石石棉污染。具体而言，污染是颤音 - 肌肉石棉。This type of fiber is often called Libby Amphibole asbestos (LA).
闪石石棉污染了多数libby Vermiculite矿石的26％。
Amphibole asbestos is highly friable. In other words, it easily crumbles, chips and breaks apart. This could lead to fibers becoming airborne, putting individuals at risk of exposure. Some studies suggest exposure to amphibole is more likely to cause mesothelioma than exposure to chrysotile asbestos.
Where Was Libby Amphibole Asbestos Found?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found LA in*:
- 室内环境空气
- Outdoor ambient air
- Indoor dust
- ver石insulation
- ver石bulk materials
- 土壤
- 水
- Animal tissue
- 鱼组织
- Various other media
*The EPA collected these findings during their investigation in Libby, Montana.
Local news outlets reported concerns about asbestos in Kootenai River and its tributary, Rainy Creek. The EPA found low levels of asbestos in the Kootenai River during testing. However, reporters noted asbestos in Rainy Creek was a larger concern. Asbestos readings for Rainy Creek were reportedly well above standarddrinking water regulations。
These waterways were not sources for Libby’s drinking water. However,报告表明other effects. Some of the earliest cases of asbestos diseases in the community were diagnosed among those who fished in these waters.
Who Was Responsible for the Libby Asbestos Contamination?
Asbestos contamination of the vermiculite mine was a natural occurrence. The proximity of the natural deposits of vermiculite and asbestos led to easy contamination.
However, reports indicate W.R. Grace was aware of the presence of asbestos and its health risks after it took over mining operations in 1963. The company measured dangerous levels of asbestos in the vermiculite in 1975. Despite this knowledge, the company allowed mining to continue. It also did not warn employees. The mine did not close until 1990.
When Did the Public Become Aware of W.R. Grace’s Involvement?
Knowledge of the Libby asbestos disaster spread through media outlets in the late 1990s. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer published “Uncivil Action: A Town Left to Die,” a series about Libby. As knowledge spread about the mine’s dangers, so did knowledge of W.R. Grace’s involvement.
“The W.R. Grace Co., which owned the mine for three decades, was well aware of the deadly asbestos being inhaled by the miners and their families, but for years did not tell its workers of the hazards.”
-From “Uncivil Action: A Town Left to Die” bySeattle Post-Intelligencer
Because of the company’s negligence, hundreds of employees and other Libby residents faced不法接触。Many employees and their families reported asbestos-related deaths and diagnoses.
As a result, W.R. Grace has faced thousands of asbestos claims and lawsuits. W.R. Grace has also established an石棉信托基金支付当前和将来的索赔。
03. Exposure & Health Risks in Libby
Why Were the Vermiculite Mines a Problem for People in Libby?
The vermiculite mines produced large amounts of dust that contained asbestos. The dust affected not only those working in the mines but also those living and working in the vicinity.
Who Was Exposed to Libby Asbestos?
Anyone that came into contact with the contaminated vermiculite riskedasbestos exposure。即使是那些不直接与ver虫合作的人也面临健康风险。石棉尘从矿山散布到邻近的建筑物，房屋和学校。
风险冒险的石棉疾病的团体包括：
- 矿工直接与受污染的矿物合作
- Community members living and working near the mine
- School children in parks and sports fields near the mines
- Consumers utilizing Libby vermiculite products
While Libby residents faced exposure from the mine, Libby asbestos caused widespread concerns. Asbestos from the mine was incorporated into a variety of products. Consumers across the United States risk exposure if they come into contact with the contaminated materials.
Health Impacts From Libby Asbestos Exposure
许多利比工人和居民被诊断出患有石棉疾病。数百人死亡。由于矿山的石棉暴露的持久影响，发病率和死亡率继续提高。
暴露to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite could lead to:
- 万博专业版
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Pleural thickening
- Pleural plaques
- Other asbestos cancers
- Other non-malignant asbestos diseases
Most health effects stemming from the Libby asbestos sites have been respiratory diseases. This is from individuals breathing in asbestos dust and debris from the mine.
石棉相关疾病对利比男女的影响
Elevated asbestos-related deaths have occurred for men and women in Libby. Men have accounted for a slightly larger number of asbestos-related diagnoses and deaths. Researchers note men were more likely to work as miners.
Mining is a high-risk asbestos occupation. Miners are at risk of exposure when mining asbestos or minerals in close proximity to asbestos. Although asbestos mining is banned today, mining of other minerals near asbestos deposits continues. By disturbing asbestos fibers, miners risk exposure and the development or related illnesses.
Manywomen were exposedfromsecondary exposure。Mine workers were likely to bring home asbestos fibers on their clothing.
Continued Asbestos-Related Deaths in Libby, Montana
研究人员报告说，来自利比矿的石棉导致1990年代大约400人死亡。相关死亡一直持续到2000年代，并且今天仍在发生。
有毒物质和疾病注册机构（ATSDR）collected Libby mortality data从1979年到1998年。它从死亡证明书中检索了死亡原因。
During this time period, workers from the vermiculite mine in Libby accounted for:
- 92% of asbestosis deaths
- 67% of mesothelioma deaths
- 17% of lung cancer deaths
Follow-up reports show incidence and mortality rates continue to rise. Researchers also feel the data is an underestimation of asbestos diseases related to Libby.
04. Libby的EPA清理工作
利比，蒙大拿州石棉清洁工作
Concerns about asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana began to peak in the late 1990s. Citizens, local government and media brought concerns to the EPA. The EPA began to respond in 1999.
The agency set up a local information center to help handle asbestos concerns. The news of those affected by Libby’s asbestos contamination continued to spread as the EPA became involved.
By 2000, an石棉超级基金调查began. Through this investigation, the EPA sought to determine the source(s) of asbestos. It alsoestablished a plan for cleanupand decontamination. Libby was then placed on the EPA’s Superfund list in 2002. Libby was also placed on the National Priorities List (NPL). This prioritizes EPA cleanup projects based on risk.
利比是美国历史上最大的环境灾难之一。2009年，EPA宣布在利比（Libby）发生公共卫生紧急情况，这是该机构历史上的第一个。这是为了向石棉受害者提供联邦医疗保健援助。它还强调了与矿山接触有关的严重健康风险。
格雷斯有to contribute $250 million toward past and future cleanup efforts. The EPA spent more than $600 million on the project until its completion in 2018.
在利比，需要将石棉删除在哪里？
The EPA investigated more than 8,100 properties within the Libby Superfund site. The asbestos cleanup covered more than 2,600 of these properties. The EPA completed cleanups at all:
- Schools
- Parks
- Residential areas
- Commercial areas
- Former vermiculite-processing plants
- Other contaminated public areas
EPA除去了超过一百万立方码的污染土壤。土壤沉积在封闭的ver矿中。该机构还从来源区域和结构中删除了超过一百万立方码的石棉污染废物。废物被处置在指定的垃圾填埋场中。利比的旧矿山和森林地区仍然受到污染。
05. Libby今天安全吗？
Is Libby, Montana Safe Today?
The EPA asserts that Libby, Montana is now safe. The agencycompleted its investigation and cleanupof Libby, Montana in 2018.
According to the EPA，，，，“The amount of LA in air in downtown Libby is now nearly 100,000 times lower than when the vermiculite mine and mill were operating.”
Over the past few years, the EPA has removed portions of Libby from the NPL. This demonstrates their progress toward diminishing associated health risks.
Is There Still Asbestos in Libby?
Even though the EPA completed its investigation and cleanup of Libby, there are still areas with asbestos concerns. The agency has not yet addressed asbestos cleanup of the vermiculite mine site and forested areas.
Libby is still known for今天的石棉悲剧。利比的居民继续分享他们的故事以及石棉对家人的影响。
EPA计划为森林制定清理计划。它已经承认，如果发生野火，则有LA暴露于紧急人员的风险。该机构已向蒙大拿州利比市的美国森林服务局和地方和州合作伙伴提供支持，以协助防火。
On July 1, 2020, the EPA transferred the majority of project oversight to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The EPA continues to oversee the actual mine site.
Why Are People Still Dying in Libby?
石棉继续产生持久的影响n Libby. Residents continue to die and face asbestos-related diagnoses.
Some victims are only now receiving diagnoses from exposure years ago. For example,signs of mesotheliomamay take years to emerge. Due to itslong latency period，，，，symptoms can take 10 – 50 years to present.
06. Lawsuits & Settlements
Libby石棉诉讼和和解
W.R. Grace continues to face石棉声称在将受害者暴露于利比的石棉之后。工人，亲人和社区成员患有与石棉有关的疾病，并因公司的疏忽而死亡。
W.R. Grace已支付数百万美元来解决石棉索赔。与W.R. Grace有关的著名石棉诉讼包括：
- 2011:A judge awarded a $43 million settlement to more than 1,300 claimants.
- 2017:A judge awarded a$25 million settlement给1000多名索赔人。
- 2018:Montana’s Supreme Court appointed six new judges to handle thousands of pending Libby claims.
通过提起石棉诉讼，受害者可能能够接受financial compensation。This can help with treatment costs, lost income and other related hardships.
处理一旦nse number of asbestos claims,W.R. Grace established a trust fund。有助于确保当前和石棉信托基金future claimants receive financial help. To determine trust fund eligibility, individuals should seek counsel from an石棉律师。
