THE EFFECTS OF A HEALTH DEPARTMENT STUDY ON A COMMUNITY LIVING NEAR A FORMER ASBESTOS MINE

A chrysotile asbestos mine in Vermont closed in 1993. Erosion of mine tailings into an impacted wetland in 2004 mobilized the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) to the site. In 2006, ANR asked the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) to assess the risk of non-occupational asbestos exposure. On Nov. 3, 2008, A Cross Sectional Study of Asbestos Related Morbidity and Mortality in Vermonters Residing near an Asbestos Mine was released. The study included 13 of the 16 towns in a 10 mile radius surrounding the mine. VDH cited 3 statistically significant findings and concluded that hospital discharges with a diagnosis of asbestosis, deaths from asbestosis as primary or secondary cause and a diagnosis of lung cancer were more likely for Vermonters in the 13 towns. The study was updated Dec. 8, 2008, deleting the lung cancer results due to VDH's error. There were 5 deaths identified in the target area from asbestosis, all were male and 2 were mine employees and hence eliminated from the study. Concerned about the earlier misinterpreted lung cancer results, community members searched all death certificates in the 13 towns during the 10 year study period and identified 2 of the 3 remaining deaths. One was a dairy farmer who worked at the mine for a year and the other had a career in the shipbuilding industry. The last asbestos related death was identified by a local relative, an individual in the shipbuilding industry that had been diagnosed with asbestosis prior to moving to Vermont. Regarding the hospital discharge data, VDH needed permission to compare the date of birth on death certificates and hospital discharge records to eliminate duplication and identify possible exposure. The request was denied and the data no longer complied with the study parameters. On April 1, 2009, VDH released a third version that now found no increased incidence of asbestos related diseases from non-occupational exposure. The inadequately substantiated research however has branded our community. Health Commissioner Davis, while refusing to admit error, told the press: "If there is a lesson to be learned here, it's to use every opportunity to work as directly as possible with the community." Moving forward, any potential remediation options at the site will need both science and common sense to be part of the solution.