According to a new report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, levels of asbestos in and around schools in Libby, Montana have decreased for the first time in many years. According to EPA officials, the small amount of asbestos present is considered safe.

“The first, probably most important question is, is it OK to send my children to school here in Libby, and I think the answer is yes,” said EPA Toxicologist David Berry during a recent public meeting. “Levels that were detected in the activity-based sampling were within acceptable exposure levels as evidence and used at other Superfund sites in the United States.”

“The numbers we are using are based on the (toxicity value) for chrysotile tremolite [asbestos], so they don’t specifically address Libby amphibole but they give us an idea of what the theoretical risks would be for Libby amphibole [asbestos],” he added. “It’s the best method we have for detecting Libby amphibole in the soil at this time.”

Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health issues, which include lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of cancer. Mesothelioma often takes many decades to develop, but once the first symptoms emerge, the disease can progress rapidly. In most cases, a patient suffering from mesothelioma is not expected to live for longer than 24 months after being diagnosed.

“The outdoor levels have been significantly reduced. The air quality has significantly improved,” Berry said. “Libby amphibole will remain at low levels in the Libby valley for probably a long time. We can expect to see sporadic detections of Libby amphibole in indoor and outdoor areas.”

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