The history of asbestos contamination in Libby, Montana, is marked by a series of significant events and legal battles. Beginning in the mid-20th century, the Zonolite company started mining vermiculite, which contained dangerous asbestos fibers.
References:
Larson, T. C., Williamson, L., & Antao, V. C. (2020). Follow-Up of the Libby, Montana Screening Cohort: A 17-Year Mortality Study. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 62(1), e1–e6. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001760
McNew, T., Miller, M., & Black, C. (2018). EPA’s Only Public Health Emergency: Libby, Montana’s Asbestos Exposure, Screening Program, and Research. Chest, 154,789A. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2018.08.710
McNew, T., Hernandez, T., & Black, C. (2016). Asbestos Exposure and Health Screening in Libby, Montana: Past, Present, and Future. Chest, 150, 931A. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2016.08.1032
Staff. (2005, February, 21). Buildup to disaster: A Libby timeline. High Country News. https://www.hcn.org/issues/292/15302
Whitmer, M. (2022, March 11). Libby, Montana. The Mesothelioma Center. https://www.asbestos.com/jobsites/libby/
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Libby, Montana asbestos timeline
2009
EPA declares Libby Superfund site a Public Health Emergency (PHE)
2021 study identifies 694 non-occupational asbestos related deaths 1979-2011
Thousands of claims filed against state agencies for failure to warn of the asbestos contamination. State agencies continue to claim no legal obligation to warn of mine dangers.
2004
Libby asbestos victims’ medical bills estimated to total $32 million over next 5 years.
At least 1 in 10 Libby residents have asbestos related illness
W.R. Grace to pay 1/3 of anticipated costs.
2003
W.R. Grace ordered to pay $54 million to support environmental clean up
2002
EPA declares Libby a Superfund clean-up site
1999
Seattle Post Intelligencer reports Libby asbestos is killing people. Creates national attention.