Ehp ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES

ehp ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES



Exposure to Asbestos-Containing Vermiculite Ore and Respiratory Symptoms among Individuals who were Children while the Mine was Active in Libby, Montana

Lisa C. Vinikoor, Theodore C. Larson, Thomas F. Bateson, Linda Birnbaum doi: 10.1289/ehp.0901680 (available at )

Online 23 March 2010

National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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Exposure to Asbestos-Containing Vermiculite Ore and Respiratory Symptoms among Individuals who were Children while the Mine was Active in Libby, Montana Lisa C. Vinikoor1, Theodore C. Larson2, Thomas F. Bateson3, Linda Birnbaum4

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 2. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA 30341 3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 4. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Corresponding Author: Lisa C. Vinikoor U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ATTN: MD B243-01 109 T.W. Alexander Drive Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA Phone: (919)541-2931 Fax: (919)541-4284 Email: vinikoor.lisa@

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Running Title: Respiratory Symptoms in Libby, MT Keywords: asbestos; children; Libby, MT; respiratory symptoms; spirometry; vermiculite ore Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. EPA, ATSDR, or NIEHS. Competing Interests Declaration: The authors have no competing interests or financial disclosures. Abbreviations: ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry); CI (confidence interval); FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second); FVC (forced vital capacity); LLN (lower limit of normal); NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey); OR (odds ratio)

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Outline of Section Headers: Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion References Table 1 Table 2 Tables 3

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ABSTRACT Background: Libby, Montana was home to the largest vermiculite ore mine in the U.S. The processing, use, and transport of the ore, which was contaminated with amphibole asbestos, led to generalized contamination of the community. The mine closed in 1990. Objectives: To examine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in 2000-2001 and their association with history of vermiculite exposure among people who were 18 years of age or younger when the mine closed. Methods: Information on respiratory symptoms and exposure history was collected by questionnaire in 2000-2001, at which time participants were 10-29 years old. Logistic regression was used to model the associations between exposures and outcomes adjusted for age, sex, and tobacco smoke exposure. Results: Of the 1,003 individuals included in the study, 10.8% reported usually having a cough, 14.5% reported experiencing shortness of breath when walking up a slight hill or hurrying on level ground, and 5.9% reported having coughed up bloody phlegm in the past year. These respiratory symptoms were positively associated with frequently handling vermiculite insulation when compared to never handling vermiculite insulation. There was no association between vermiculite insulation in the house and respiratory symptoms. Respiratory symptoms were associated with other vermiculite exposures as well, and the number/frequency of these activities showed a positive trend with usually having a cough. There was no association between any of the activities and abnormal spirometry. Conclusions: These data suggest that residents of Libby, MT who were children when the mine closed experienced some respiratory symptoms associated with asbestos-contaminated vermiculite exposure.

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