title: Multiple pathway asbestos exposure assessment for a Superfund community.
abstract: Libby, MT, USA, was the home to workers at a historical vermiculite mining facility and served as the processing and distribution center for this industrial product that was contaminated with amphibole asbestos. Several pathways of environmental asbestos exposure to the general population have been identified. The local clinic and health screening program collects data from participants on past occupational and environmental exposures to vermiculite and asbestos. Health studies among this population have demonstrated associations between amphibole exposure and health outcomes, but critical questions regarding the nature and level of exposure associated with specific outcomes remain unanswered. The objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive exposure assessment approach that integrates information on individuals' contact frequency with multiple exposure pathways. For 3031 participants, we describe cumulative exposure metrics for environmental exposures, occupational exposures, and residents' contact with carry-home asbestos from household workers. As expected, cumulative exposures for all three occupational categories were higher among men compared with women, and cumulative exposures for household contact and environmental pathways were higher among women. The comprehensive exposure assessment strategies will advance health studies and risk assessment approaches in this population with a complex history of both occupational and environmental asbestos exposure.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA.
authors.forename: Curtis W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Noonan
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA.
authors.forename: Kathrene
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.affiliation: Computational Ecology Laboratory, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Landguth
authors.affiliation: Center for Asbestos Related Disease, Libby, Montana, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McNew
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Linker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, USA.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pfau
authors.affiliation: Center for Asbestos Related Disease, Libby, Montana, USA.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szeinuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flores
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009009:Montana / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole
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