Household contact with asbestos vermiculite dust

Household contacts and family members may have been exposed to Libby asbestos brought home on the clothing and hair of those who worked at the plant.

Vermiculite processing is known to be dusty, and in the 1950s, 1960s, and much of the 1970s, there was no filtering system in place. According to former workers, disposable suits were not worn, and workers did not shower or change clothes before going home. Later, industrial hygiene practices improved in the industry, and systems were added to control dust.

Family or other household contacts may have come in contact with LA by direct contact with the worker, by laundering clothing, or by the re-suspension of dust during household activities. Exposures to household contacts cannot be estimated without information concerning LA levels on worker clothing and specific clothing handling and laundering practices.

Past exposure to household contacts is considered a complete exposure pathway and a past public health hazard. During 2000, the former processing facility was cleaned under the supervision of ODEQ. According to the asbestos abatement clearance inspection from 2000, the cleanup was thought to reduce and potentially eliminate contaminated dust inside the building.

Since then, EPA sampling has detected the presence of fibers consistent with Libby asbestos at the facility suggesting that further cleanup is warranted.