Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in Montana

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Prevalence in Montana

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that is most often linked to asbestos exposure. In Montana, the disease continues to affect residents decades after exposure occurred. Between 2017 and 2021, the state reported an age-adjusted mesothelioma incidence rate of 1.1 per 100,000 people, with 76 new cases diagnosed during that period.

Several industries have historically contributed to asbestos exposure in Montana, including oil refining, vermiculite mining, lumber production, paper manufacturing, and sugar processing. Workers in these industries were often exposed without adequate warnings or protections.

Lung cancer is another serious disease linked to asbestos exposure in the state. During the same time frame, Montana recorded 3,561 lung cancer cases, representing an incidence rate of 46.2 per 100,000 people. In 2023 alone, 720 new lung cancer cases and 80 related deaths were reported, highlighting the continued health impact of asbestos.

Asbestos-related diseases in Montana often emerge decades after exposure, making awareness and early detection critical for long-term health outcomes.

Contributing Factors

Montana has a long history of asbestos exposure due in part to naturally occurring asbestos deposits throughout the state. There are 19 documented asbestos mines and deposits, and asbestos was widely used in construction, mining, and industrial operations for many years.

Lincoln County has been particularly affected, especially the town of Libby. The vermiculite mining operations in this area released large amounts of tremolite asbestos into the environment, exposing workers and residents alike. Many individuals later developed mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer.

While smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer, asbestos exposure has also played a significant role in Montana, including among non-smokers. When combined, smoking and asbestos exposure dramatically increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

Asbestos exposure is not limited to mining areas. Older buildings and industrial hubs across Montana may still contain asbestos materials, posing ongoing risks during renovations, demolitions, or maintenance work.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure has affected workers and families in every state, across countless industries, and often long after the original exposure occurred. Asbestos-related illness is not limited to any single region. Exposure has occurred in factories, power plants, oil refineries, shipyards, schools, hospitals, military bases, and residential buildings throughout the United States.

Workplace

LEAD ASBESTOS ATTORNEYS

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High-Risk Occupations in Montana

In Montana, a large portion of asbestos exposure is linked to the historic vermiculite mines near Libby. However, workers in many other occupations were also exposed on the job, often without knowing the dangers at the time.

Refinery Workers

Refinery workers at the Conoco oil refinery in Billings were exposed to asbestos used in insulation, piping, and equipment. High temperatures made asbestos a common material, increasing the risk of inhaling harmful fibers during daily operations and maintenance.

Power Plant Workers

At the J.E. Corette power plant in Billings, asbestos was used to insulate boilers, turbines, and other equipment. Workers were exposed during routine maintenance and during asbestos-related incidents reported before the plant closed in 2014.

Miners

Miners at the W.R. Grace & Company vermiculite mine near Libby and the Karst Mine near Big Sky faced daily exposure to airborne asbestos. Tremolite asbestos was mixed with vermiculite, releasing toxic dust. ASARCO also conducted asbestos mining in Montana beginning in the 1950s.

Factory and Industrial Workers

Workers at facilities such as Boise Cascade's plywood plant and ASARCO's pipe manufacturing operations handled asbestos-containing materials. These materials were commonly used in insulation, adhesives, and machinery parts before the 1980s.

Maintenance Workers

Maintenance workers across refineries, power plants, and manufacturing facilities frequently disturbed asbestos while repairing or replacing insulated equipment, putting them at particularly high risk of exposure.

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Cities in Montana with Asbestos

There are 61 cities in Montana that are covered by Asbestos Trust Funds

Montana Asbestos Trust Fund

Asbestos trust funds are financial reserves established by companies to compensate individuals harmed by asbestos exposure, particularly after those companies file for bankruptcy.

W.R. Grace & Co. Asbestos Trust Fund

In 2014, W.R. Grace & Co. established a $3 billion asbestos trust fund related to its operations in Libby, Montana. The fund was created to ensure that current and future victims of asbestos exposure would have access to financial compensation.

Key Asbestos Lawsuits in Montana

Libby Residents vs. State of Montana � $43 Million

In September 2011, nearly 1,200 Libby residents reached a $43 million settlement with the State of Montana. The settlement addressed widespread asbestos exposure and was paid by the state's insurance provider.

Ralph Hutt vs. W.R. Grace & Co. � $36.5 Million

In 2022, a jury in Great Falls awarded $36.5 million to Ralph Hutt, a former laborer at the W.R. Grace vermiculite mill in Libby. Hutt developed serious health conditions after being exposed to asbestos at work.

Wells and Walder Families vs. BNSF Railroad � $8 Million

On April 22, 2024, a jury awarded $8 million to the families of Thomas Wells and Joyce Walder. Both lived near a railyard where asbestos-contaminated vermiculite was transported and later died from mesothelioma.