Mesothelioma Patients in Libby Have Little Time to Take Advantage of Free Asbestos Screening

The deadline for Libby’s free asbestos screening is fast approaching. In 2003, the Montana Asbestos Screening and Surveillance Activities program was formed in response to a request from the residents of Libby, Montana, who have endured a great deal of asbestos contamination within their city. As a result of the contamination, more than 200 people have died from asbestos-related disease. In addition, more than 1,000 have been diagnosed with asbestos-induced illness.

The mission of MASSA is to provide free lung screening to present and former residents of Libby who experienced exposure to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. To be eligible for a free initial and follow-up screening, a person must have lived, worked, played, or attended school in the Libby area for a minimum of six months prior to December 31, 1990.

Now Libby residents have until September 19 to take advantage of the free asbestos screening from MASSA. Since 2003, the program has administered 4,500 free lung exams for 3,100 people. Results of the MASSA screenings are sent for evaluation to the national Jewish Medical and Research Center, where specialists review the results to ensure medical objectivity. The MASSA program also collects data on how each person may have been exposed to asbestos.

For 70 years, W.R. Grace Co. operated a vermiculite mine in the town of Libby. Despite internal corporate knowledge that the mine was contaminated with asbestos, Grace chose to put profits ahead of public health and safety. Grace never informed its employees or the town of Libby about the asbestos contamination, and the consequence of that decision has been deeply paid by too many Libby residents.

Higher incidence of asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma among Libby residents has been well documented through scientific research and medical study. All three exhibit a long latency period and are very expensive to treat. Malignant mesothelioma, for example, currently has no established cure and mesothelioma treatments are extremely costly.

Patients of MASSA and those who have not been screened are able to receive healthcare benefits through The Libby Asbestos Medical Plan. These benefits can be used for screening and follow-up tests. Anyone who has not been screened and would like to enlist with LAMP must have lived in Libby for no less than six months prior to 2000 to be eligible. For more information on this program and how to apply, contact the Center for Asbestos Related Disease in Libby.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm and is filed under Mesothelioma Treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.