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Welcome to the first newsletter of the Tremolite Asbestos Registry (TAR). Thank you for your participation. The intent of this newsletter is to keep you informed of recent activities related to the TAR.
A registry contains detailed information on individuals and is periodically updated. The TAR is a registry of people who have likely been exposed to the asbestos that contaminated the vermiculite mined in Libby, Montana. The types of information in the TAR are as follows:
ATSDR's plan is to collect new information from you periodically to find out if you have moved or if your health has changed.
The purposes of the TAR fall under the following categories:
IN THIS ISSUE
Information about the following federal and private agencies and services relevant to asbestos-related disease (ARD) has been provided to the Libby community.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
ATSDR's vision is to protect people's health from toxic exposures. ATSDR conducted community screening in Libby from 2000-2001. By law, ATSDR cannot provide medical diagnoses. ATSDR can be reached at 1-888-422-8737 or at www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
Community Advisory Group (CAG)
The Community Advisory Group (CAG) was set up by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow citizens to voice their concerns about asbestos-related disease and other health issues in a structured meeting format. The group's meetings help the EPA to communicate with the public and to share information, as well as answer questions on how the clean-up is progressing. Several sub-committees have been formed from the CAG to address specific concerns. CAG meeting summaries can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/libby/archives.html#2.
Environmental Protection Agency
The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people. In Libby, the EPA is responsible for clean-up actions. EPA normally does not clean residences; this is a special action in Libby. The EPA cannot provide health care or health care information. The EPA can be reached at 1-866-457-2690 or at http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/libby/index.html.
Lincoln County Community Health Center
The Lincoln County Community Health Center is
a federally funded health center for primary care
in Libby,Troy, and Eureka,Montana.The health
center is designed to provide universal access to
primary health care services. Sliding-scale fees
are adjusted to the patient's ability to pay.
The Lincoln County Community Health Center
can be reached at:
711 California Avenue
Libby, MT 59923
(406) 293-3755
or at http://www.lcchc.org/
Center for Asbestos-Related Disease
The Center for Asbestos-Related Disease (CARD)
is a non-profit clinic devoted to the care of
current and former Lincoln County residents
whose health was impacted by exposure to
Libby asbestos. CARD provides care, support, and
research needed for asbestos-related diseases,
including screening and diagnosis. CARD can be reached at:
308 Louisiana Avenue
Libby, Montana 59923
(406) 293-9274
or at http://www.libbycard.org/
CARD Outreach Recovery Assistance
Card Outreach Recovery Assistance (CORA) addresses the problems that can emerge in everyday life because of asbestos-related health problems. CORA can provide individual education as well as one-on-one supportive and crisis counseling related to:
To access CORA services, call Tanis Hernandez at the CARD clinic at (406) 293-9274.
Asbestos-Related Disease Network
The Asbestos-Related Disease Network (ARD
NET) helps people determine the services for
which they may be eligible. ARD NET also helps
people fill out applications as needed. This
assistance includes applying for Social Security,
Medicaid, Medicare, drug assistance, or other
programs that may address unmet needs or
improve quality of life. Direct services include
home assistance, such as personal care, and
assistance with housework or heavy household
activities. Most ARD NET programs are available
to all people living with asbestos related disease,
although some specific programs have eligibility
requirements. ARD Net is funded through a Rural
Health Outreach Grant. ARD NET can be reached at:
308 Louisiana Ave. Suite 3
Libby, MT 59923
(406) 293-4600
Montana Asbestos Screening and Surveillance Activity
Montana Asbestos Screening and Surveillance Activity (MASSA) is a new screening program conducted by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Free screening is offered to people who lived, worked, or played in the Libby area for at least 6 months prior to December 31, 1990.The screening includes a:
The MASSA clinic can be reached at:
609 Mineral Avenue
Libby, Montana 59923
(406) 293-5060 or 1-800-797-6143
It is important to take care of yourself when you have an asbestos-related illness. Even if you haven't started showing symptoms, damage to your lungs may have occurred. A good care tip is to practice relaxation and breathing techniques. The feeling of not being able to get enough air into your lungs can be frightening. Breathing training helps you control your rate of breathing and your breathing pattern. Control of your breathing rate and pattern lowers the risk that used air will not stay in your lungs and occupy space needed for new air.
One of the best ways to care for yourself is to avoid cigarette smoke. Smoking can increase the rate of disease progression and also increases the risk of lung cancer. If you are a smoker, quitting is a good idea. If you live with a smoker, urge them to quit. Smoking can speed up the onset of respiratory problems. Quitting now will greatly improve your health. You will be able to take deeper breaths, which will help keep your lungs clean. The blood vessels in your respiratory system will relax and allow your blood to flow normally. This blood flow will ease the stress on your heart, and your heart will not have to work so hard. The tissue in your lungs will breathe easier.
Want to Quit Smoking?A structured smoking cessation program has a good chance of successfully helping a smoker quit the habit. Speak with your health care provider about referrals to successful programs in your area, or contact the American Lung Association or American Cancer Society for more information about smoking cessation. In Libby,contact the CARD Clinic or MASSA for information and programs in your area. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line provides free information,free cessation treatment counseling, and free supplies (patches and gum) for those people in Montana who are trying to quit tobacco. The program has a very high success rate. Professional counselors will set up five telephone-counseling sessions at each client's convenience. The Quit Line sends free patches for smokers or gum for tobacco chewers in six-week quantities. The counseling and supplies continue until the person is tobacco free. When you are ready to set a quit date, call the Quit Line toll free at 1 (866) 485-QUIT.
If you are interested in a tobacco-free Montana, join the Tobacco Prevention coalition.Call Barb Guthneck at (406) 293-3951 or email her at bguthneck@yahoo.com.
There are many more self-care activities in the brochure, "Living with Asbestos-Related Illnesses" developed by ATSDR. A copy of this brochure is included with this newsletter.
This page last updated on June 14, 2005
E-mail contact: ATSDR National Exposure
Registry
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