Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Residential yards in Spokane near former W.R. Grace & Co.’s insulation factories are being tested for asbestos with new technology that is better at detecting very low levels of the deadly fibers. The work is being performed as a result of the recent declaration of Libby, Montana as a public health emergency. Libby was the home site for a former vermiculite mine that produced ore contaminated with asbestos.

 

Asbestos was once widely used in a variety of manufacturing, construction and industrial applications until it was discovered to be a carcinogenic mineral that caused serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestos becomes a threat to safety when it becomes airborne and can be inhaled. If asbestos is in the soil, it can easily become disturbed and airborne during everyday activities, such as raking, gardening, playing, etc. 

 

In Libby, more than 200 people have died and thousands more are suffering from asbestos-related diseases, prompting the EPA to declare Libby a public health emergency, dedicating funds toward further investigations into the extent of contamination and toward clean up efforts to reduce any further risk to the public.

 

Vermiculite Northwest, a former factory in Spokane, produced Zonolite, W.R. Grace’s attic insulation that was tainted with asbestos fibers. A decade ago, EPA officials sampled soils from nearby residential yards and determined the area to be safe. However, now there exists more advanced technology and methods for asbestos testing so the EPA has decided to retest the soil to determine levels of asbestos. Results from the tests are expected to be available by late August.