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ADVISORY — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Jon Corsiglia, Liz Moore or Lauren Sucher, Watchdog Group Lists 236 Asbestos Shipment Sites on WebResearchers Urge Former Workers To Get Medical Checkup For Potential Asbestos ExposureWashington, 15 April -- An environmental watchdog group has published an Internet listing of 236 locations, by street address, where asbestos-laden vermiculite was shipped from Libby, Montana over a 45-year period and is urging anyone who may have worked there to get a health checkup. The locations, culled from government records by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group Action Fund, received shipments of asbestos-laden material from the Libby mine. It was used to manufacture a variety of products, including insulation and other building materials. EWG Action fund has made the lists available on the Web at: Also available is a nationwide map of places where asbestos was shipped, available on the Web at: http://www.ewg.org/reports/asbestos/maps/shipment_data.php "Health authorities in Washington State and at the federal level have concluded that people who worked at these locations are at risk of developing a number of serious asbestos-caused illnesses," said Richard Wiles, EWG Action Fund senior vice president. "Anyone who worked at these locations should have a thorough medical exam, whether or not they were directly involved in the manufacture of products that contained asbestos." Washington state health officials appear concerned about the risks of living near these facilities. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported on April 14 that the Department of Health will soon notify residents living within one half mile of a now-closed plant about the health risks of asbestos. According to EWG Action Fund, a total of 4.8 million tons of asbestos-containing material was shipped to 236 street addresses in 39 states as recorded by government investigators. Asbestos is still legal in the United States. The U.S. imports over 30 million pounds a year. Early next week, the U.S. Senate plans to begin debate on a bill that would terminate all asbestos litigation for present and future victims of asbestos illnesses. # # # | |