Vermiculite Asbestos Insulation, Tainted Insulation A Risk In Older Homes But Fund Can Help Reduce Cleanup Bills

Was sold under the brand name zonolite by wr.

Captain underpants comic book coloring pages. Dig through the insulation layer and scoop a sample from the floor. The insulation which was known by the brand name zonolite is most often found in residential attics. You need to collect a cupful of vermiculite in a sandwich size ziploc bag.

Vermiculite is used in insulation fire retardants cement aggregate fertilizer and potting soil. Remember asbestos is much heavier than the vermiculite and it slowly sinks close to the bottom of the insulation layer. Other common uses are as thermal and sound insulation construction material insulation material and for lightweight absorbent packaging material.

The most popular vermiculite insulation in the us. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. It was mined there for more than 50 years ending in 1990.

Vermiculite itself has not been shown to be a health problem. It could be purchased locally and could be installed by contractor or homeowner. Nearly all vermiculite contains asbestos which can cause lung cancer when inhaled.

Asbestos causes cancer and other diseases. As long as this kind of vermiculite based insulation remains undisturbed behind intact walls or in attic spaces and does not become airborne it should not be a concern. However some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres which can cause problems if inhaled.

The vermiculiteasbestos connection vermiculite is a natural flaky mineral similar to mica that expands like popcorn when heated. People who used vermiculite products such as for attic insulation and landscaping supplies from zonolite in north america were advised of their options at the time. Where does the asbestos come from and why is it a health concern.

It does not have to be exact amount. What made the libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits. Asbestos fibers must be airborne to cause a health risk through inhalation so the first step is not to disturb the material which would release more fibers into the air.

Once the asbestos was discovered the mine closed in 1990. The vermiculite from libby is part of the longest man made environmental disaster in american history. While its true that undisturbed encapsulated asbestos doesnt pose a health risk the asbestos in vermiculite insulation isnt encapsulated and can easily become airborne during cleaning maintenance or remodeling.

Unfortunately almost all vermiculite insulation contains asbestos and is unsafe when disturbed. Panded vermiculite make it useful in lawn and garden agricultural and horticultural products.