Libby vermiculite mine, Montana

The mine near Libby, in Lincoln County, Montana, was a vermiculite mine.^2,3 An early U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook reports that "the Universal Insulation Co. (successor to Vermiculite & Asbestos Co.)," of Chicago, "produced anthophyllite from a deposit near Libby, Lincoln County."¹ Decades later the U.S. Geological Survey, writing in the same yearbook series for 2007 and 2009, described Libby as the place "where vermiculite contaminated with asbestos was mined and processed," without naming the mine or its operator.^2,3

The documents report this mine producing asbestos fiber for sale.¹

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Location

Year by year

Every statement about this mine in the documents, in each document's own words, by the year it is about.

1937

• Ownership: “The Universal Insulation Co. (successor to Vermiculite & Asbestos Co.)” (Universal Insulation Co.), p. 4¹
• Fiber: “produced anthophyllite from a deposit near Libby” (Universal Insulation Co.), p. 4¹
• Worked: “The Universal Insulation Co. (successor to Vermiculite & Asbestos Co.) ... produced anthophyllite from a deposit near Libby, Lincoln County” (Universal Insulation Co.), p. 4¹

2000

• Dust and health: “continued to test for the presence of asbestos in and around a vermiculite mine in Libby, MT”, p. 1⁴
• Dust and health: “preliminary health studies on local residents and former workers at the vermiculite operation”, p. 1⁴

2001

• Dust and health: “continued to test for the presence of asbestos in and around a vermiculite mine”, p. 1⁵

2002

• Dust and health: “conducting medical examinations of former vermiculite miners and millers and residents of Libby, MT”, p. 1⁶
• Dust and health: “former employees of the Libby vermiculite mining operation who suffer from asbestos-related disease”, p. 1⁶

2004

• Dust and health: “continued health studies of residents and former vermiculite miners and millers in Libby, MT”, p. 1⁷
• Dust and health: “asbestos-related diseases were diagnosed in mine workers”, p. 1⁷

2005

• Dust and health: “exposure and health studies of residents and former vermiculite miners and millers in Libby, MT”, p. 2⁸

2007

• Fiber: “amphibole exposures at Libby”, p. 2²
• Description: “Libby, MT, where vermiculite contaminated with asbestos was mined and processed”, p. 2²

2009

• Dust and health: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continued its remedial activities in Libby” (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), p. 2³
• Dust and health: “plans to invest $8 million in projects to compare the health of people exposed to Libby asbestos in childhood” (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry), as reported by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2009, p. 2³
• Dust and health: “Health research and asbestos cleanup continued in Libby, MT”, p. 2³

2010

• Description: “vermiculite contaminated with asbestos was mined and processed”, p. 2³

In court opinions

Court opinions in our case-law library that name this mine, by how they concern it. A search found every one that names the mine and an AI reader sorted them; the quotation, checked word for word against the text, shows where. Those that name the mine only in passing or in a reference list are left out.

People who worked at the mine (3)

• Aarstad v. BNSF Railway Company (2018): “WRG operated the mill until 1990. (Doc. 8 at 2). Plaintiffs were all workers of WRG or Zolonite Company.”
• Maryland Cas. Co. v. Asbestos Claims Court (2020): “MCC owed a duty of care to warn third-party employees of its insured (W.R. Grace and Company ("Grace")) of a known risk of airborne asbestos exposure in or about Grace facilities in and about Libby, Montana, between 1963 and 1970.”
• Orr v. State (2004): “include an on-site carpenter, seven former miners from Libby, Montana, and the wife of a former miner, all of whom have been diagnosed with asbestos disease”

People exposed near the mine (12)

• Atchley v. Louisiana Pacific Corp. (2018): “Dr. Spear interviewed loggers, logging truck drivers, and mill workers, who told him that logs from the area surrounding the mine were delivered to the Stimson Lumbermill and to the LP Lumbermill.”
• Baeth v. Liberty NW Ins. Corp. (2014): “Spear stated that the source of Libby amphibole asbestos is the Grace vermiculite mine outside of Libby”
• Erickson v. Air & Liquid Sys. Corp. (2015): “He moved to Libby, Montana in 1954 where the J. Neils Lumber Company ("Neils Lumber") employed him as a laborer, foreman, electrician and maintenance man until 1993.”
• Gallegos v. BNSF Railway Company (2024): “wrongful death allegedly resulting from Ms. Moe's exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos as a result of BNSF's activities in Libby, Montana”
• Johnson v. Liberty Northwest Insurance Corporation (2009): “Johnson was employed at the lumber mill in Libby, Montana, between 1963 and August 31, 2001.”
• McDowell v. Burlington Northern Santa FE Railway Company (2017): “Mrs. McDowell lived and attended school in Libby, Montana. Plaintiff alleges that she was exposed to hazardous quantities of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite”
• Morey v. BNSF Railway Company (2023): “This case concerns alleged asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana. Morey is a resident of Libby, Montana.”
• Peterson v. Liberty NW Ins. Corp. (2013): “alleging lung disease caused by years of exposure to asbestos dust while employed with the "Stimson Lumber Facility" (Stimson) in Libby, Montana”
• Rosling v. Associated Loggers Exchange (2019): “McMillan also hunted and fished in the Rainy Creek drainage, an area that was heavily contaminated.”
• Wells v. BNSF Railway Company (2023): “Plaintiffs claim that BNSF failed to contain this dust or otherwise prevent it from blowing through Libby's downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, thus exposing Libby residents”
• Wells v. BNSF Railway Company (2024): “This action concerns BNSF's handling and transport of vermiculite containing asbestos in Libby, Montana.”
• Wells v. BNSF Ry. Co. (2024): “This action concerns BNSF's handling and transport of vermiculite containing asbestos in Libby, Montana.”

The mine’s fiber in products (8)

• Brandecker v. E&b Mill Supply Co. (2018): “Two-thirds of the vermiculite ore used by Scotts from 1966 to 1980 came from the Libby mine.”
• Clayton Center Assoc. v. WR Grace & Co. (1993): “In its brief, defendant admits it mined and processed vermiculite ore used in Mono-Kote and other products.”
• Harashe v. Flintkote Co. (1993): “allowing documentary evidence of reports concerning defendant's Libby, Montana, mine where the vermiculite utilized was mined”
• In re Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC (2014): “Grace used vermiculite, a non-asbestos mineral, in its Zonolite, but the mine in Libby, Montana where Grace obtained the vermiculite was contaminated with asbestos.”
• In re WR Grace & Co. (2006): “The vermiculite in ZAI was mined from Zonolite Mountain, located ten miles from Libby, Montana.”
• Johnson v. Edward Orton, JR. Ceramic Foundation (2023): “The Data Sheet stated that the vermiculite originated from Libby, Montana, and contained less than 0.1% by weight of asbestos.”
• Johnson v. Orton (2021): “The MSDS stated that the vermiculite Orton was supplied originated from a mine in Libby, Montana and contained small amounts (less than .1% by weight) of asbestos.”
• Johnson v. Orton (2021): “Bruce worked also with Orton pyrometric cones packaged in boxes of vermiculite from the asbestos-contaminated Libby mine in Montana”

In medical studies

Medical studies in our research library that name this mine, by how they concern it. A search found every one that names the mine and an AI reader sorted them; the quotation, checked word for word against the text, shows where. Those that name the mine only in passing or in a reference list are left out.

Studies of the mine’s workers (21)

• Amandus HE 1987: The morbidity and mortality of vermiculite miners and millers exposed to tremolite-actinolite: Part I. Exposure estimates: “our studies of the mortality and morbidity of the Libby miners and millers [Amandus et al, 1987a,b].”
• Amandus HE 1987: The morbidity and mortality of vermiculite miners and millers exposed to tremolite-actinolite: Part II. Mortality: “A study was conducted to estimate the exposure-response relationship for mortality for 575 men who had been hired prior to 1970 and employed at least 1 year at the Montana site”
• Amandus HE 1987: The morbidity and mortality of vermiculite miners and millers exposed to tremolite-actinolite: Part III. Radiographic findings: “The reason for porportionately more cases of pleural change, and fewer cases of pleural effusion, at the Libby mine and mill than at the fertilizer plant is unclear.”
• Bateson TF 2015: Influence of exposure assessment and parameterization on exposure response. Aspects of epidemiologic cohort analysis using the Libby Amphibole asbestos worker cohort: “The objective was to evaluate different exposure parameterizations suggested in the asbestos literature using the Libby, MT asbestos worker cohort”
• Black B 2017: A clinical assessment and lung tissue burden from an individual who worked as a Libby vermiculite miner: “This is to our knowledge the first time such an extensive evaluation has been conducted in a vermiculite miner from Libby, Montana.”
• Clark KA 2014: Pleural plaques and their effect on lung function in Libby vermiculite miners: “were obtained from the medical records of 166 Libby vermiculite miners”
• Clark KA 2017: The Effects of Pleural Plaques on Longitudinal Lung Function in Vermiculite Miners of Libby, Montana: “This study was conducted to assess associations of pleural plaques (PP) and longitudinal lung function in vermiculite miners of Libby, Montana who are occupationally exposed to asbestos.”
• Larson TC 2010: Vermiculite worker mortality: estimated effects of occupational exposure to Libby amphibole: “To examine the relationship between cumulative fiber exposure (CFE) and mortality in a retrospective cohort study of vermiculite workers exposed to Libby amphibole”
• Larson TC 2010: Workers with Libby amphibole exposure: retrospective identification and progression of radiographic changes: “Multiple sequential chest radiographs obtained between 1955 and 2004 in 84 workers exposed to amphiboles associated with vermiculite in the town of Libby, Montana, were studied.”
• Larson TC 2012: Association between cumulative fiber exposure and respiratory outcomes among Libby vermiculite workers: “To examine the association between cumulative fiber exposure and health outcomes in workers (n = 336) with Libby amphibole exposure.”
• Larson TC 2020: Follow-Up of the Libby, Montana Screening Cohort: A 17-Year Mortality Study: “Follow-Up of the Libby, Montana Screening Cohort: a 17-Year Mortality Study”
• McDonald JC 1986: Cohort study of mortality of vermiculite miners exposed to tremolite: “In April 1983 we were invited by WR Grace & Co, owners of a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, to investigate the health of their employees.”
• McDonald JC 1986: Radiological survey of past and present vermiculite miners exposed to tremolite: “The survey described in the present paper is one of a series of studies undertaken to assess the health effects of work in a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana.”
• McDonald JC 1992: Ferruginous body counts in sputum as an index of past exposure to mineral fibres: “20 employees at the vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, volunteered to provide sputum samples daily for a week”
• McDonald JC 2004: Mortality in a cohort of vermiculite miners exposed to fibrous amphibole in Libby, Montana: “was assessed in a cohort of 406 vermiculite mineworkers in Libby, Montana, employed before 1963 and followed until 1999.”
• Miller A 2018: Libby Amphibole Disease: Pulmonary Function and CT Abnormalities in Vermiculite Miners
• Miller A 2022: Case-fatality study of workers and residents with radiographic asbestos disease in Libby, Montana: “Asbestos is the leading cause of mortality following both occupational and nonoccupational exposure to LA in those with asbestos‐related disease.”
• Moolgavkar SH 2010: Potency factors for risk assessment at Libby, Montana: “We reanalyzed the Libby vermiculite miners’ cohort assembled by Sullivan”
• Moolgavkar SH 2014: A review and critique of U.S. EPA's risk assessments for asbestos: “However, the IUR should be based on the entire cohort of Libby miners, and the analysis should properly account for temporal factors.”
• Sullivan PA 2007: Vermiculite, respiratory disease, and asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana: update of a cohort mortality study: “This report expands the previously studied occupational cohort to include all white men hired at Libby from September 1935 through December 1981.”
• Whitehouse AC 2004: Asbestos-related pleural disease due to tremolite associated with progressive loss of lung function: serial observations in 123 miners, family members, and residents of Libby, Montana

Studies of people who lived nearby (38)

• Black B 2014: Rapid progression of pleural disease due to exposure to Libby amphibole: "Not your grandfather's asbestos related disease": “Residents and mine employees from Libby, Montana, have been exposed to asbestiform amphiboles from the vermiculite mine that operated in this location”
• Cline RJ 2010: Community-level social support responses in a slow-motion technological disaster: the case of Libby, Montana: “This study explores social support processes in Libby, MT, a community experiencing a”
• Cline RJ 2014: The role of social toxicity in responses to a slowly-evolving environmental disaster: the case of amphibole asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana, USA: “those whose health has been compromised by the amphibole asbestos disaster in Libby, MT.”
• Cline RJ 2015: Social Support Functions During a Slowly-Evolving Environmental Disaster: The Case of Amphibole Asbestos Exposure in Libby, Montana: “We explored social support functions during an ongoing “slowly-evolving environmental disaster” in Libby, Montana”
• Diegel R 2018: Case series: rheumatological manifestations attributed to exposure to Libby Asbestiform Amphiboles: “Through the Libby Epidemiology Research Program, cases were identified that illustrate clinical autoimmune outcomes with LAA exposure.”
• Dodson RF 2020: A clinical evaluation and tissue fiber burden analysis of a lifetime resident of Libby, Montana with adenocarcinoma of the lung: “an individual with a multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lung who was a lifelong resident of Libby and whose history of exposure was as a member of the general population there”
• Hanson R 2016: Libby amphibole-induced mesothelial cell autoantibodies bind to surface plasminogen and alter collagen matrix remodeling: “Libby amphibole-induced mesothelial cell autoantibodies bind to surface plasminogen and alter collagen matrix remodeling”
• Larson TC 2012: Associations between radiographic findings and spirometry in a community exposed to Libby amphibole: “Our objective was to determine if abnormal spirometry is associated with LPT independent of other abnormalities, using data from community-based screening conducted in Libby, Montana.”
• Larson TC 2012: Comparison of digital with film radiographs for the classification of pneumoconiotic pleural abnormalities: “Subjects were patients of the Center for Asbestos Related Disease clinic in Libby, Montana, being treated for pulmonary symptoms”
• Larson TC 2014: Impact of body mass index on the detection of radiographic localized pleural thickening: “All were patients being treated or screened for asbestos-related health outcomes in Libby, Montana.”
• Larson TC 2020: Response to 'Follow-Up of the Libby, Montana Screening Cohort: A 17-year Mortality Study: Likely Underestimation of Nonmalignant Asbestos-Related Disease': “across the decades in which the Libby vermiculite operation was active, there were likely other persons exposed to Libby amphibole asbestos who did not participate in those screening programs”
• Loewen G 2019: Lung cancer screening in patients with Libby amphibole disease: High yield despite predominantly environmental and household exposure: “Patients in an asbestos disease clinic in Libby, Montana who were aged 50 to 84 years”
• Marchand LS 2012: Mesothelial cell and anti-nuclear autoantibodies associated with pleural abnormalities in an asbestos exposed population of Libby MT: “Mesothelial cell and anti-nuclear autoantibodies associated with pleural abnormalities in an asbestos exposed population of Libby MT”
• Muravov OI 2005: The usefulness of computed tomography in detecting asbestos-related pleural abnormalities in people who had indeterminate chest radiographs: the Libby, MT, experience: “we evaluated HRCT of 353 people in Libby, MT, who had been exposed to asbestiform minerals associated with vermiculite”
• Naik SL 2017: Mortality from asbestos-associated disease in Libby, Montana 1979-2011: “Our study reports on asbestos-related mortality in Libby over 33 years (1979–2011)”
• Noonan CW 2006: Exposure matrix development for the Libby cohort
• Noonan CW 2006: Nested case-control study of autoimmune disease in an asbestos-exposed population
• Noonan CW 2015: Multiple pathway asbestos exposure assessment for a Superfund community: “Libby, MT, USA, was the home to workers at a historical vermiculite mining facility and served as the processing and distribution center”
• Orom H 2012: A Typology of Communication Dynamics in Families Living a Slow-Motion Technological Disaster: “One community living the consequences of a slow-motion technological disaster is Libby, Montana, where, for nearly 70 years, amphibole asbestos-contaminated vermiculite was mined”
• Ostroff RM 2012: Early detection of malignant pleural mesothelioma in asbestos-exposed individuals with a noninvasive proteomics-based surveillance tool: “Serum samples from MM cases and asbestos-exposed controls were collected at 4 institutions: New York University (NYU), Mount Sinai Medical Center (SIN), the Center for Asbestos Related Diseases in Libby, Montana (LIB)”
• Peipins LA 2003: Radiographic abnormalities and exposure to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite in the community of Libby, Montana, USA: “Mining and processing of vermiculite from the world’s largest deposit near Libby, Montana, began in the early 1920s and continued for 70 years.”
• Pfau JC 2005: Assessment of autoimmune responses associated with asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana, USA
• Pfau JC 2018: Analysis of autoantibody profiles in two asbestiform fiber exposure cohorts: “Among the 6603 individuals who have undergone health screening at the Center for Asbestos Related Diseases (CARD, Libby MT)”
• Pfau JC 2019: Autoimmune markers for progression of Libby amphibole lamellar pleural thickening: “Autoimmune markers for progression of Libby amphibole lamellar pleural thickening”
• Price B 2008: Exposure to airborne amphibole structures and health risks: Libby, Montana: “This article presents a review of the exposure studies conducted in Libby and an analysis of health risks based on the data collected in those studies.”
• Roggli VL 2019: Dimensions of elongated mineral particles: a study of more than 570 fibers from more than 90 cases with implications for pathogenicity and classification as asbestiform vs. cleavage fragments: “Libby amphibole from the lung of a resident of Libby, MT”
• Ryan PH 2015: Childhood exposure to Libby amphibole during outdoor activities: “The objectives of this study were to describe available data from the US EPA preremediation actions for Libby amphibole (LA) exposure in Libby, MT and develop an approach to characterize outdoor residential exposure to LA among children.”
• Ryan PH 2017: Childhood exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos and respiratory health in young adults: “Recreational and residential areas in Libby were contaminated with LAA. This objective of this study was to characterize childhood exposure to LAA”
• Serve KM 2013: Asbestos-associated mesothelial cell autoantibodies promote collagen deposition in vitro: “We recently reported the discovery of mesothelial cell autoantibodies (MCAAs) in the sera of Libby”
• Szeinuk J 2017: Pulmonary abnormalities as a result of exposure to Libby amphibole during childhood and adolescence-The Pre-Adult Latency Study (PALS): “Recruitment was restricted to volunteers who attended primary and/or secondary school, lived in Libby, MT, prior to age 23 years”
• Vinikoor LC 2010: Exposure to asbestos-containing vermiculite ore and respiratory symptoms among individuals who were children while the mine was active in Libby, Montana: “Exposure to Asbestos-Containing Vermiculite Ore and Respiratory Symptoms among Individuals Who Were Children While the Mine Was Active in Libby, Montana”
• Weill D 2011: Lung function, radiological changes and exposure: analysis of ATSDR data from Libby, MT, USA: “investigated lung disease in those exposed to the tremolite-contaminated vermiculite mine in Libby, MT, USA.”
• Weinert C 2011: Psychosocial health status of persons seeking treatment for exposure to libby amphibole asbestos: “A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted to describe the psychosocial health status of persons seeking health care for exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos (LAA).”
• Whitehouse AC 2008: Environmental exposure to Libby Asbestos and mesotheliomas: “These cases are in non-occupationally exposed people, appearing to have resulted from exposure to contamination of the community”
• Winters CA 2011: Determining satisfaction with access and financial aspects of care for persons exposed to Libby amphibole asbestos: rural and national environmental policy implications: “Our findings indicated the Libby cohort was significantly less satisfied with access and financial aspects of care”
• Winters CA 2012: Descriptive analysis of the respiratory health status of persons exposed to Libby amphibole asbestos: “Participants: 329 individuals exposed to LAA; mostly men, married, between 50 and 69 years; two-thirds lived in the surrounding county”
• Winters CA 2014: A Case Study Exploring Research Communication and Engagement in a Rural Community Experiencing an Environmental Disaster: “in 2006 with 71 Libby residents (Cline, 2007) found a”
• Winters CA 2016: Principal components analysis to identify influences on research communication and engagement during an environmental disaster: “Residents of the Libby, Montana area were recruited from a local retail establishment”

Studies of the mine’s fiber (67)

• 2015: New reports from the NIOSH health hazard evaluation program: “On the basis of these results, we found that employee exposures to Libby amphibole did not exceed occupational exposure limits during activities in the mine area.”
• Adgate JL 2011: Modeling community asbestos exposure near a vermiculite processing facility: Impact of human activities on cumulative exposure: “Contaminated vermiculite ore from Libby, Montana was processed in northeast Minneapolis from 1936 to 1989 in a densely populated urban residential neighborhood”
• Alexander BH 2012: Radiographic evidence of nonoccupational asbestos exposure from processing Libby vermiculite in Minneapolis, Minnesota: “One of the destinations for the Libby vermiculite ore was the Western Minerals/W.R. Grace (WM/WRG) facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota.”
• Badger R 2021: Late Inflammation Induced by Asbestiform Fibers in Mice Is Ameliorated by a Small Molecule Synthetic Lignan: “Exposure to Libby amphibole (LA) asbestos-like fibers is associated with increased risk of asbestosis, mesothelioma”
• Benson R 2015: Exposure-response modeling of non-cancer effects in humans exposed to Libby Amphibole Asbestos; update: “The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a quantitative exposure-response model for the non-cancer effects of Libby Amphibole Asbestos (LAA)”
• Blake DJ 2007: Internalization of Libby amphibole asbestos and induction of oxidative stress in murine macrophages: “The purpose of this study is to determine the cellular consequences of Libby amphibole exposure in macrophages”
• Blake DJ 2008: Autoantibodies from mice exposed to Libby amphibole asbestos bind SSA/Ro52-enriched apoptotic blebs of murine macrophages: “Autoantibodies from mice exposed to Libby amphibole asbestos bind SSA/Ro52-enriched apoptotic blebs of murine macrophages”
• Chatfield EJ 2018: Measurement of elongate mineral particles: What we should measure and how do we do it?
• Cheresh P 2015: Asbestos-induced pulmonary fibrosis is augmented in 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase knockout mice: “crocidolite or Libby amphibole asbestos (100 mg/50 ml) each augmented pulmonary fibrosis”
• Christensen KY 2012: Localized pleural thickening: smoking and exposure to Libby vermiculite: “This analysis uses data from the Marysville cohort of workers occupationally exposed to Libby amphibole asbestos (LAA).”
• Christofidou-Solomidou M 2019: Synthetic secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (LGM2605) inhibits Libby amphibole fiber-induced acute inflammation in mice: “Synthetic secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (LGM2605) inhibits Libby amphibole fiber-induced acute inflammation in mice”
• Cook PM 2016: Quantitative structure-mesothelioma potency model optimization for complex mixtures of elongated particles in rat pleura: A retrospective study: “(including Libby, Montana amphibole [LA]), using the potency of UICC amosite as the reference material”
• Cyphert JM 2012: Long-term response of rats to single intratracheal exposure of Libby amphibole or amosite: “Long-Term Response of Rats to Single Intratracheal Exposure of Libby Amphibole or Amosite”
• Cyphert JM 2012: Sumas Mountain chrysotile induces greater lung fibrosis in Fischer344 rats than Libby amphibole, El Dorado tremolite, and Ontario ferroactinolite: “Sumas Mountain Chrysotile Induces Greater Lung Fibrosis in Fischer 344 Rats Than Libby Amphibole, El Dorado Tremolite, and Ontario Ferroactinolite”
• Cyphert JM 2015: Comparative long-term toxicity of Libby amphibole and amosite asbestos in rats after single or multiple intratracheal exposures: “COMPARATIVE LONG-TERM TOXICITY OF LIBBY AMPHIBOLE AND AMOSITE ASBESTOS IN RATS AFTER SINGLE OR MULTIPLE INTRATRACHEAL EXPOSURES”
• Cyphert JM 2016: Long-term toxicity of naturally occurring asbestos in male Fischer 344 rats: “The toxicities of Libby amphibole and NOA samples including Sumas Mountain chrysotile (SM), El Dorado tremolite (ED), and Ontario ferroactinolite cleavage fragments (ON) were compared in male Fischer 344 (F344) rats”
• Dodson RF 2014: Biodurability/retention of Libby amphiboles in a case of mesothelioma: “The findings of Libby amphibole fibers in human tissue can be attributed to exposure to Libby vermiculite.”
• Duncan KE 2010: Effect of size fractionation on the toxicity of amosite and Libby amphibole asbestos: “The mechanism by which Libby amphibole (LA) causes pulmonary injury is not known. The purpose of this study is to compare the cellular stress responses”
• Duncan KE 2014: In vitro determinants of asbestos fiber toxicity: effect on the relative toxicity of Libby amphibole in primary human airway epithelial cells: “In this study, we conduct a comparative particle toxicity analysis of LA compared with standard reference asbestiform amphibole samples.”
• Dunning KK 2012: Mesothelioma associated with commercial use of vermiculite containing Libby amphibole: “To describe asbestos-related mortality among manufacturing workers who expanded and processed Libby vermiculite”
• Ewing WM 2010: Zonolite attic insulation exposure studies: “The mines in Libby were the largest source of this vermiculite.”
• Fantauzzi M 2012: Surface chemistry and surface reactivity of fibrous amphiboles that are not regulated as asbestos: “and from the vermiculite mine of Libby, MT, USA (termed “Libby” herein).”
• Ferro A 2014: Amphibole, but not chrysotile, asbestos induces anti-nuclear autoantibodies and IL-17 in C57BL/6 mice: “Six-mix (6-Mix) asbestos, a mixture of amphibole fibers from the vermiculite mine in Libby, MT, was provided by the USGS.”
• Gavett SH 2016: Persistent effects of Libby amphibole and amosite asbestos following subchronic inhalation in rats: “Persistent effects of Libby amphibole and amosite asbestos following subchronic inhalation in rats”
• Gilmer J 2016: Libby amphibole-induced mesothelial cell autoantibodies promote collagen deposition in mice: “Libby amphibole-induced mesothelial cell autoantibodies promote collagen deposition in mice”
• Goldade MP 2014: Use of direct versus indirect preparation data for assessing risk associated with airborne exposures at asbestos-contaminated sites: “The EPA funded this work as part of investigative and cleanup efforts conducted at the Libby Asbestos Superfund Site.”
• Hamilton RF 2004: A comparison of asbestos and urban particulate matter in the in vitro modification of human alveolar macrophage antigen-presenting cell function: “In this study, 2 forms of asbestos (crocidolite and Libby amphibole) and PM2.5 (an urban particle) were cultured with human alveolar macrophages”
• Harper M 2015: Where occupation and environment overlap: US Forest Service worker exposure to Libby Amphibole fibers: “to personnel from the US Department of Agriculture-Forest Service (USFS) working in the Kootenai National Forest near a former vermiculite mine close to Libby, Montana.”
• Hart JF 2007: Evaluation of asbestos exposures during firewood-harvesting simulations in Libby, MT, USA--preliminary data: “in the Kootenai Forest inside the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restricted zone surrounding the former W.R. Grace vermiculite mine.”
• Hart JF 2009: An evaluation of potential occupational exposure to asbestiform amphiboles near a former vermiculite mine: “Amphibole asbestos (AA) has been detected on the surface of tree bark in forests neighboring an abandoned vermiculite mine near Libby, Montana.”
• Harvey BW 2008: Analysis of the analytical performance of laboratories participating in two major U.S. bulk asbestos proficiency testing programs
• Hilbert TJ 2013: Asbestos-related radiographic findings among household contacts of workers exposed to Libby vermiculite: impact of workers' personal hygiene practices: “the prevalence of radiographic changes consistent with asbestos exposure among household contacts of workers exposed to Libby vermiculite”
• Hillegass JM 2010: Mechanisms of oxidative stress and alterations in gene expression by Libby six-mix in human mesothelial cells: “Exposures to an amphibole fiber in Libby, Montana cause increases in malignant mesothelioma (MM)”
• Horton DK 2008: Select mortality and cancer incidence among residents in various U.S. communities that received asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore from Libby, Montana: “this analysis evaluated whether other communities throughout the United States that received asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore from Libby experienced similar excess rates”
• Kelly J 2006: Community exposure to asbestos from a vermiculite exfoliation plant in NE Minneapolis
• Kodavanti UP 2014: Early and delayed effects of naturally occurring asbestos on serum biomarkers of inflammation and metabolism: “Studies recently showed that intratracheal (IT) instillation of Libby amphibole (LA) increases circulating acute-phase proteins”
• Konen T 2019: Cancer incidence and mortality associated with non-occupational and low dose exposure to Libby vermiculite in Minnesota: “Community exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos from a vermiculite processing plant is associated with increased risk of COPD, lung cancer and mesothelioma incidence and mortality”
• Langer AM 1974: Electron microscopical investigation of asbestos fibers: “Tremolite was obtained from the vermiculite pit mining operation at Libby, Montana (sample provided by W. Bank, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Denver, Colo.).”
• Li M 2012: Differential activation of the inflammasome in THP-1 cells exposed to chrysotile asbestos and Libby "six-mix" amphiboles and subsequent activation of BEAS-2B cells: “In comparison to chrysotile, the relatively smaller size of the Libby amphibole probably results in more ROS production”
• Lockey JE 2015: HRCT/CT and associated spirometric effects of low Libby amphibole asbestos exposure: “changes and spirometry of workers with Libby amphibole asbestos exposure”
• Moatamed F 1986: Fiber contamination of vermiculites: a potential occupational and environmental health hazard: “The unexpanded and expanded Libby vermiculite ores (grade Nos. 2 and 3) were obtained in 1981 from a Salt Lake City expander facility exclusively utilizing Libby, Montana, ore.”
• Overocker J 2012: Cytokine Production Modified by System X(c)- After PM10 and Asbestos Exposure: “Cells were challenged with amphibole asbestos called 6-Mix (from Libby, MT, courtesy: US Geological Survey)”
• Padilla-Carlin DJ 2011: Pulmonary inflammatory and fibrotic responses in Fischer 344 rats after intratracheal instillation exposure to Libby amphibole: “Pulmonary Inflammatory and Fibrotic Responses in Fischer 344 Rats After Intratracheal Instillation Exposure to Libby Amphibole”
• Pfau JC 2008: Asbestos-induced autoimmunity in C57BL/6 mice: “communities such as Libby MT where asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from the nearby vermiculite mine was used throughout the community”
• Pfau JC 2011: Alteration of fibroblast phenotype by asbestos-induced autoantibodies: “Six-Mix asbestos is a mixture of amphibole fibers collected at the Libby MT vermiculite mine site.”
• Pfau JC 2012: Functional expression of system x(c)- is upregulated by asbestos but not crystalline silica in murine macrophages: “Indeed, amphibole asbestos (Libby MT 6-Mix) increased protein expression of xCT”
• Pfau JC 2014: Activation and trafficking of peritoneal B1a B-cells in response to amphibole asbestos: “Studies of the amphibole asbestos-exposed population of Libby MT led to the discovery that high titers and frequencies of positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) tests were associated with exposure”
• Pfau JC 2017: Comparative health effects in mice of Libby amphibole asbestos and a fibrous amphibole from Arizona: “Comparative health effects in mice of Libby amphibole asbestos and a fibrous amphibole from Arizona”
• Pietruska JR 2010: XRCC1 deficiency sensitizes human lung epithelial cells to genotoxicity by crocidolite asbestos and Libby amphibole: “two types of amphibole asbestos, International Union Against Cancer (UICC) crocidolite and Libby amphibole.”
• Putnam EA 2008: Gene expression changes after exposure to six-mix in a mouse model: “a mouse model of asbestos exposure using Six-mix (a combination of amphibole fibers gathered from six sites at the Libby vermiculite mine)”
• Rohs AM 2008: Low-level fiber-induced radiographic changes caused by Libby vermiculite: a 25-year follow-up study: “A 1980 study of a manufacturing facility using Libby vermiculite was the first to demonstrate a small but significant prevalence of pleural chest radiographic changes”
• Salazar KD 2012: Effects of Libby amphibole asbestos exposure on two models of arthritis in the Lewis rat: “were employed to determine whether exposure to Libby amphibole (LA) induced a more rapid onset, increased expression, or prolonged course of RA.”
• Salazar KD 2013: Evaluation of anti-nuclear antibodies and kidney pathology in Lewis rats following exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos: “Evaluation of anti-nuclear antibodies and kidney pathology in Lewis rats following exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos”
• Shannahan J 2011: The role of cardiovascular disease-associated iron overload in Libby amphibole-induced acute pulmonary injury and inflammation: “We hypothesized that Libby amphibole (LA)-induced cute lung injury will be exacerbated in rat models of cardiovascular disease”
• Shannahan JH 2011: The role of iron in Libby amphibole-induced acute lung injury and inflammation: “The role of iron in Libby amphibole-induced acute lung injury and inflammation”
• Shannahan JH 2012: Acute phase response, inflammation and metabolic syndrome biomarkers of Libby asbestos exposure: “We hypothesized that rats exposed to Libby amphibole (LA) would present with a unique serum proteomic”
• Shannahan JH 2012: Transcriptional activation of inflammasome components by Libby amphibole and the role of iron: “Transcriptional activation of inflammasome components by Libby amphibole and the role of iron”
• Shannahan JH 2012: Vascular and thrombogenic effects of pulmonary exposure to Libby amphibole: “Vascular and Thrombogenic Effects of Pulmonary Exposure to Libby Amphibole”
• Smartt AM 2010: Collagen accumulation over time in the murine lung after exposure to crocidolite asbestos or Libby amphibole: “Collagen Accumulation Over Time in the Murine Lung After Exposure to Crocidolite Asbestos or Libby Amphibole”
• Wang A 2023: Natural mineral fibers: conducting inhalation toxicology studies - part A: Libby Amphibole aerosol generation and characterization method development
• Wang A 2023: Natural mineral fibers: conducting inhalation toxicology studies-part B: development of a nose-only exposure system for repeat-exposure in vivo study of Libby amphibole aerosol
• Ward TJ 2006: Trees as reservoirs for amphibole fibers in Libby, Montana: “Tree bark and core samples were collected from areas surrounding the asbestos-contaminated vermiculite mine in Libby, MT.”
• Ward TJ 2012: Amphibole asbestos in tree bark--a review of findings for this inhalational exposure source in Libby, Montana: “Amphibole Asbestos in Tree Bark—A Review of Findings for This Inhalational Exposure Source in Libby, Montana”
• Webber JS 2006: Evidence and reconstruction of airborne asbestos from unconventional environmental samples
• Webber JS 2008: Separation and characterization of respirable amphibole fibers from Libby, Montana: “Separation and Characterization of Respirable Amphibole Fibers from Libby, Montana”
• Wright RS 2002: Fatal asbestosis 50 years after brief high intensity exposure in a vermiculite expansion plant: “Comparison analysis of a sample of Libby, Montana, vermiculite showed a similar mix of asbestiform fibers including tremolite asbestos.”
• Zu K 2016: Pleural plaques and lung function in the Marysville worker cohort: a re-analysis: “In the 2014 Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessment for Libby amphibole asbestos (LAA), US EPA calculated a reference concentration (RfC) based on the prevalence of pleural plaques in a group of vermiculite workers in Marysville, Ohio.”

Other names

Documents call this mine “vermiculite mine in Libby, MT”, “Libby vermiculite mining operation”, “Libby”, “Universal Insulation Co.”, “Vermiculite & Asbestos Co.”.

See also

• Asbestos exposure sites in Montana
• All asbestos mines

References

1. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1938 (January 1, 1939), p. 4.
2. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2007 (January 1, 2008), p. 2.
3. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2009 (January 1, 2010), p. 2.
4. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2000 (January 1, 2001), p. 1.
5. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2001 (January 1, 2002), p. 1.
6. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2002 (January 1, 2003), p. 1.
7. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2004 (January 1, 2005), p. 1.
8. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2005 (January 1, 2006), p. 2.