Mineral Deposit: Asbestos linked to lupus, arthritis

A new study of residents from Libby, Mont., the town where more than 1,500 people have fallen ill from asbestos-contaminated mines, links asbestos exposure with three autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Previous research found high rates of asbestos-related lung diseases, including the rare cancer mesothelioma, among miners in Libby.