ASBESTOS CANCER
Libby vermiculite workers suffer cancer and death

Libby, Montana, vermiculite workers experienced significant excess deaths from all causes, all cancers, lung cancer, cancer of the pleura, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Mortality from asbestosis and lung cancer increased with increasing cumulative exposure to airborne asbestos and other amphibole fibers.

Results of the present study are consistent with findings of previous mortality studies of workers from this cohort (Amandus and Wheeler 1987; McDonald et al. 1986, 2004).

Amandus and Wheeler (1987) studied the mortality experience through 1981 of 575 white men with mean exposure estimated at 200 fibers/cc-years, who were hired at Libby before 1970 and worked at least 1 year.

Courtesy of National Institute of Health