Dec 27, 2008 - Hamner Institute Receives $2.1 Million Research Grant from EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded The Hamner Institute for Health Sciences received the $2.1 million federal grant to study the health dangers of asbestos, particularly found in vermiculite, a mineral used in packaging, insulation, and other processes. Asbestos-contaminated vermiculite was shipped from mines in Montana to hundreds of locations across the U.S. and continues to create a health risk to the public.
Exposure to vermiculite is associated with asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. People are exposed to asbestos mainly through inhaling fibers in the air they breathe. This may occur when mining and processing asbestos, producing and packaging asbestos-containing products, or installing materials that contain asbestos.
The Hamner Institute will study the health risks associated with inhaling vermiculite. The Hamner Institutes is a nonprofit research organization located in North Carolina. The Institute is recognized for its research in environmental health sciences and chemical risk assessment. President and CEO Dr. William Greenlee, says “We are extremely pleased to work with the EPA on this important health concern.”
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