Testing Vermiculite Insulation For Asbestos

What are the dangers of vermiculite insulation.

Testing vermiculite insulation for asbestos.

The insulation which was known by the brand name zonolite is most often found in residential attics. In its pure form vermiculite is clean odorless nontoxic and sterile. Where does the asbestos come from and why is it a health concern. Recent findings about vermiculite ore contaminated with tremolite asbestos.

It is made from a natural mineral material that is mined from the earth. Panded vermiculite make it useful in lawn and garden agricultural and horticultural products. Lcs laboratory inc offers fast and affordable testing of vermiculite for asbestos impurities. Concerns about asbestos contaminated vermiculite insulation a mine near libby montana was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the united states from 1919 to 1990.

It was mined there for more than 50 years ending in 1990. The only way to know for sure if vermiculite insulation in your home contains asbestos is to have it tested. Vermiculite loose fill insulation is one of the most common household materials that contains asbestos. There was also a deposit of asbestos at that mine so the vermiculite from libby was contaminated with asbestos.

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral compound that expands when heated. Vermiculite is a man made product that is made by heating mica like mineral to 600 ºc. Vermiculite mined and used from about 1920 to 1990 is the most likely to contain at least traces of asbestos. Tests that check vermiculite for asbestos contamination must be done in a laboratory.

What made the libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits. Vermiculite insulation has a pebble like appearance and typically is a grayish brown or silvery gold color. A member of the phyllosilicate group of minerals it resembles mica in appearance. Today zonolite insulation endangers not only past workers of the company but those residents living in homes containing the product.

The majority of the vermiculite mined for zonolite was found to contain some of the most toxic forms of asbestos minerals known to cause mesothelioma. Other common uses are as thermal and sound insulation construction material insulation material and for lightweight absorbent packaging material. Geological survey usgs found a way to test for trace levels of asbestos in vermiculite insulation on site which marks a promising development in public health. The test is commonly used by home buyers sellers home inspectors and safety consultants to check that vermiculite insulation is safe.

While you can take samples of vermiculite from insulation in your home to send for testing the us environmental protection agency warns against it the epa strongly recommends that a trained. If asbestos is found then the proper procedures can be implemented to keep you and your family safe from exposure. In a breakthrough study the u s.