The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today its release of a mortality review for Libby, Montana, area. The mortality review was conducted to generate an accurate picture of deaths potentially associated with asbestos exposure in Libby.

In preparing the report, ATSDR reviewed all death certificates for Libby residents who died between 1979 and 1998, and compared the number of local deaths from asbestos-related causes to the numbers in Montana and across the United States.

The results of the mortality review indicate that the rate of deaths because of asbestosis (either as the primary cause of death, or as an underlying cause of death) in Libby during the period reviewed was 40 and 60 times the corresponding rates for the state of Montana and the United States, respectively.

In addition to asbestosis, the review looked at other conditions potentially associated with asbestos exposure, including: non-malignant respiratory disease, lung cancer, and digestive cancers. For each of these, the rates in Libby were not significantly different from the state rate, or the rate for the rest of the United States.

The review did find that during the years examined, there were four deaths in the Libby area which were attributed to mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining. However, because of the difficulty in diagnosing the disease, and the lack of reliable comparison rates, ATSDR was not able to determine how the rate in Libby compares to other areas. Despite our being unable to make statistical calculations regarding mesothelioma, the finding of four cases is more than one would expect from a community as small as Libby.

In reviewing the death certificates, ATSDR looked at the cause of death listed for the deceased as well as the underlying cause of death. Underlying causes of death are included on death certificates to provide additional information on medical conditions which, while not technically the cause of death, may have been contributing factors.

ATSDR representatives will announce these findings in Libby on Thursday evening, December 14, 2000.  The mortality review is available for public review at the following repositories:

The review is not related to the Libby asbestos medical testing program, which ATSDR conducted this past summer and fall. All data for the mortality review were drawn from death certificates maintained by the state of Montana and other states where Libby was listed as the residence of the deceased.

Community members seeking more information about the mortality review, or who would like to receive a copy, should contact ATSDR Epidemiologist Steve Dearwent, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Libby, Montana, site." ATSDR Regional Representative Dan Strausbaugh also may be called for information at (406) 444-2959 in Helena, Mont.

For more information about asbestos and health effects related to exposure, please visit the ATSDR Web site, at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov, and click on the ToxFAQs for Asbestos. For an overview of the Libby Community Environmental Health Project go to http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/NEWS/libbymt.html.