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CARD

214 E. 3rd Street

Libby, MT 59923

Phone: (406) 293-9274

Fax: (406) 293-9280

The Center for Asbestos Related Disease

In the northwest corner of Montana, in the rural community of Libby, the Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) has emerged as a national center of excellence in addressing healthcare issues associated with Libby amphibole (previously called tremolite) asbestos. The CARD is a non-profit 501(c) 3 clinic governed by a volunteer community board. CARD operates with the vision of Caring Pathways to Treatment. The CARD is devoted to healthcare, outreach, and research to benefit all people impacted by exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos.

Through the clinic, CARD fulfills its' primary mission of providing specialty holistic care for the varied diseases associated with Libby amphibole asbestos. In addition, CARD collaborates with many clinical and basic science researchers acting as the gateway by facilitating research activities in the Libby community. CARD's goal is to stimulate research from around the country to: gain further understanding of disease mechanisms, improve early disease and cancer detection and intervention, and develop effective health management strategies in hope of finding answers to improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.

Libby Amphibole Asbestos is Unique
Libby amphibole asbestos has been recognized to be very unique as it is both chemically and structurally different from chrysotile, the commercial asbestos most common around the country. From a study by United States Geological Survey (USGS) released in 2003, we learned that Libby amphibole asbestos is a mixture of at least 5 chemically similar fibers. One of the unique features of Libby amphibole asbestos is the tendency of larger fragments to fracture, forming long thin mineral fibers that appear the same as naturally formed asbestos fibers. The toxicity of these fragments is currently unknown.

The asbestos related diseases associated with Libby amphibole asbestos has been observed to follow a different pattern than typically observed with commercial asbestos exposure, commonly known as chrysotile asbestos. The scarring of the lung tissue and its lining (called the pleura) appears the same, however, the predominate scarring that develops on chest x-ray involves the pleura with scarring in the lung tissue absent or less noticeable. The Libby Community Asbestos Screening Program carried out in 2000-2001 by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) demonstrated a markedly increased incidence, four to five times the expected rate of pleural abnormalities without a significant increase in lung scarring. This pattern is what has also been observed by physicians in the Libby community. There are no other asbestos exposures in the United States that have caused a pattern similar to Libby amphibole asbestos exposure.

Also, clinical observations supported by recent studies in the medical literature have noted that unusually low exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos has caused chest x-ray abnormalities and serious lung disease (Low level fiber induced radiographic changes caused by Libby vermiculite: A 25 year follow-up study, AJRCCM; Dec. 6, 2007)

A third observation that has been clearly different than what has been experienced with the commercial asbestos has been the significance of pleural plaques (localized areas of scarring on the lining of the lung). Previously, their presence on chest x-ray usually indicated asbestos exposure but did not lead to serious lung disease. That has not been the case with Libby amphibole asbestos; where it is not unusual for people with plaques to go on to develop serious lung disease. In some of these, the lung disease progresses much more rapidly than previous reports of asbestos disease.

Malignant mesothelioma (a cancer in the lining of the lung) has occurred at a very high rate for a population of under 10,000. There have been 33 cases that have been recorded since 1977, with 9 of these being caused by environmental asbestos exposure. Mortality studies (ATSDR, Public Health Assessment, Libby Asbestos NPL Site, 2003) have demonstrated that lung cancer rates are 30% higher in the Libby population than in similar non-asbestos exposed population.

Because of the increased frequency of health impacts, prolonged latency, and uncertain prognosis, ongoing screening, specialty care, outreach and research is essential to better understand the differences of Libby amphibole asbestos.

Exposure in Libby, Montana
Exposure in the Libby community and surrounding areas was very extensive due to... READ MORE

Exposure Across the Nation
Exposure outside of Libby was widespread because of the transportation, processing, and utilization of vermiculite and vermiculite based products... READ MORE