LIBBY MONTANA

BACKGROUND

• Mining by W. R. Grace and company
• Vermiculite tainted with asbestos
• Miners became sick company kept mining
• Asbestos tainted materials used all over Libby
• In addition to this products sold to other places

VERMICULITE

• Vermiculite known commercially as zonolite
• Used for insulation
• Tainted vermiculite sold around the US
• Asbestos needs to be removed carefully
• Can spread and taint more materials

LIBBY AFFECTED

• Libby residents harmed by asbestos
• Causes lung cancer mesothelioma etc.
• Newspapers revealed situation in Libby
• Becomes one of the US largest Superfund sites
• Had to carefully clean up to avoid further contamination

ASBESTOS PROBLEMS

• Millions of dollars were spent towards cleaning Libby
• It also caused mines to be shut down so town loses revenue
• Hazardous to human health causing lung diseases
• Hazardous to environment spreads contaminating plants
• In turn this harms animals in the area.

LIBBY STILL IN DANGER

• After exhaustive efforts much of the asbestos removed
• EPA sought more power to remove more sources of contamination
• Piles of asbestos tainted material near town
• Need more help to fix the problem.
• Some argue that this is not true to protect interests of town.

CONCLUSION

• Libby still needs help and funds
• They need to resolve the issue and restore the economy
• Need to work together and organize
• More asbestos related deaths will occur if the problem is not fixed