Study: Mesothelioma Rates Affected by Asbestos Exposure at Montana Mine

Some forms of asbestos can be found among vermiculite ore, a naturally occurring mineral commonly found in mountainous regions around the world. Vermiculite contaminated with asbestos was used in numerous different products, including insulation, soil additives and fertilizers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that asbestos in all forms is "carcinogenic to humans." In a recently published 2010 study conducted from 2000 to 2001, titled "Exposure to Asbestos-Containing Vermiculite Ore and Respiratory Symptoms among Individuals Who Were Children While the Mine Was Active in Libby, Montana," researchers tracked any respiratory issues suffered by people who were children when the W. R. Grace mine closed in Libby, Montana. Individuals that were studied were tested on whether they had participated in activities that included any handling or exposure to materials that could have been contaminated by asbestos-laced vermiculite. Researchers from the study concluded without doubt that residents of Libby during the tenure that had an elevated incidence of lung-related diseases such as malignant mesothelioma. The subjects who were questioned fell into the age group of 10 to 29 years old. The results from the tests showed approximately a 10 percent increase over the national average with symptoms of lung cancer. Many of the individuals from the study reported handling vermiculite insulation which coincided with having a cough, shortness of breath when walking u...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Asbestos Exposure & Bans Source Type: news