This week, the Billings Gazette publicized the announcement of a federally funded five-year study to be conducted in Libby, Montana. The $8 million research project is sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Named the Libby Amphibole Health Risk Initiative, the project aims to determine the effects of long-term exposure to low levels of asbestos. It is clear that long periods of exposure to high volumes of asbestos causes health problems including mesothelioma and asbestosis; over 200 Libby miners and family members have died to due asbestos complications. The new initiative seeks to establish the risk caused by low volumes of exposure, like that which might be incurred by school children or office workers in town.

The initiative will include several projects such as studying the difference in film and digital X-rays of the lungs. Officials said the initiative will seek advice from Libby residents and organizations, and also will include:

• An expanded evaluation of Libby residents who were exposed to asbestos.

• An assessment of whether the health problems related to asbestos exposure extend beyond lung disease.

• Improvements to public health tracking systems and patient health record databases, to better link exposure information to health conditions.