Affected communities
Millions of tons of ore laced with asbestos was shipped from Libby across the United States. From Hawaii, to Massachusetts, the shipments of unexpanded vermiculite made a virtual tour of Americas industrial cities. More than three-quarters of the 5.8 million tons of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore arrived to be processed in 28 communities later identified by federal health officials as priority places in need of community-wide checkups for asbestos-related disease, according to documents compiled by the Environmental Working Group.
Wilder, Ky., is one of those towns. There more than 4,000 people live within a half mile of the former Zonolite Company plant. You can read Wilder’s story here.
(edited 2/18)