They are often not associated with symptoms, but they do indicate that asbestos exposure has occurred and that the person can be at risk of other, more serious, asbestos related conditions. Exposure to asbestos has been related to two types of cancer. The first is lung cancer. The second type of cancer, which is highly associated with asbestos exposure is mesothelioma. This cancer is extremely severe, and is more common in workers, although it has also been reported in non-workers with apparently limited exposures.
Smoking plays no role in risk for mesothelioma.
Studies of workers suggest that breathing asbestos can also increase the chances of getting cancer in other parts of the body, although less frequently. Planning to provide medical testing to persons who lived or worked in Libby during the time of highest exposure is ongoing. Under this plan, people who lived near the site, worked with vermiculite, lived in a household with a vermiculite worker, or had some other activity which allowed them to have frequent contact with the vermiculite in the Libby area, would be identified and included in the medical testing plan. People who meet the designated criteria will be scheduled for a chest x-ray and will be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire. The x-rays will be reviewed by expert radiologists and the results will be provided back to the participants.