Vermiculite Insulation

Some vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos fibres. These products can cause health risks if disturbed during maintenance, renovation or demolition. However, there is currently no evidence of risk to your health if the insulation is sealed behind wallboards and floorboards, isolated in an attic, or otherwise kept from exposure to the interior environment.

What is vermiculite and where does it come from?

Vermiculite is produced from ore mined throughout the world. In the United States, mines are located in Montana, South Carolina, and Virginia. When heated, the ore expands into a light, rather fluffy material, that is fire resistant, chemically inert, absorbent, light weight, and odorless. The absorbent properties of the expanded vermiculite make it useful in lawn and garden, agricultural, and horticultural products. Other common uses are as thermal and sound insulation, construction material, insulation material, and for lightweight, absorbent packaging material.

Is vermiculite insulation a problem?

Prior to its close in 1990, much of the world's supply of vermiculite came from a mine near Libby, Montana. This mine had a natural deposit of asbestos which resulted in the vermiculite being contaminated with asbestos. Attic insulation produced using vermiculite ore, particularly ore that originated from the Libby mine, may contain asbestos fibers. Today, vermiculite is mined at three U.S. facilities and in other countries which have low levels of contamination in the finished
material.

What are the Health Risks Of Vermiculite Containing Asbestos?

Although the overall percentages of asbestos in bulk vermiculite are very low, the airborne percentages can increase if the material is disturbed. Asbestos poses health risks only when fibres are present in the air that people breathe. If asbestos fibres are enclosed or tightly bound in a product, for example in asbestos siding or asbestos floor tiles, there are no significant health risks. How exposure to asbestos can affect you depends on:

• the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air
• how long the exposure lasted
• how often you were exposed
• the size of the asbestos fibres inhaled
• the amount of time since the initial exposure.

When inhaled in significant quantities, asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs which makes breathing difficult), mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity) and lung cancer. The link between exposure to asbestos and other types of cancers is less clear.

Based on current information, there is no evidence that vermiculite currently available for horticultural purposes (eg. potting plants) is a health risk when used as directed.

Vermiculite

Asbestos and Vermiculite

Vermiculite Insulation

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