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VERMICULITE INSULATION WARNINGS

This section is currently my vermiculite insulation research section. I have gathered below articles and links that are not as of yet professionally organized. My lack of time to organize shouldn't sway you from reading the information. Some of the links are also dead, but when I get the chance I will return and reformat..... Enjoy!

Nation & World: Tuesday, August 15, 2000

W.R. Grace insulation called a health risk

by Philip Brasher

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Insulation produced from a W.R. Grace mine in Montana is a danger to workers or homeowners who handle it because of the asbestos it contains, federal health officials said.

The Public Health Service has asked the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to "look into the current worker exposures that may be dealing with these products and issue an alert if need be," Aubrey Miller, an official in the health service's Denver region, said yesterday.

Testing of Zonolite-brand insulation and Grace internal documents show that "even minimal handling by workers or residents poses a substantial health risk," the health service said in a recent memorandum to NIOSH.

The risk to homeowners would be small if they leave the insulation alone, said the memo's author, Hugh Sloan, an assistant surgeon general.

"My sense is that homeowners themselves, if that remains undisturbed, shouldn't have any worry," Sloan said.

Recent studies show even casual handling of the insulation can expose workers or homeowners to 150 times the asbestos level considered safe under federal regulations, according to the memo.

The health service and NIOSH are part of the Department of Health and Human Services. A NIOSH official said the agency was reviewing the health service's concerns.

The insulation was used in millions of homes and businesses nationwide.

Officials of Grace, based in Columbia, Md., declined to comment on the memo.

On its Web site, however, the company said the insulation was put primarily in older homes and is seldom used in new construction: "We believe now, as we did during the time we sold the product, that there is no unreasonable risk of injury or illness associated with the presence of this insulation in homes."

Vermiculite from Grace's mine in Libby, Mont., was sold for use in garden products, fireproofing, cement mixtures and more than a dozen other consumer products. The bulk of the ore was heated until it expanded like popcorn and then marketed as Zonolite insulation.

Asbestos, which has been linked to lung cancer and other diseases, is a natural contaminant of vermiculite ore.

The New York Times reported in July that the Environmental Protection Agency was investigating why officials ignored for 18 years a study that showed Grace was using ore laden with asbestos in insulation and other building products.

Copyright © 2002 The Seattle Times Company


Here is another news article found at http://cbc.ca/national/news/deadly_dust/

Zonolite Advertisement
Deadly Dust
Reporter: Frédéric Zalac
February 7, 2003

U.S.-based W.R. Grace produced Zonolite, a popular insulating material used in thousands of Canadian homes. Zonolite is the trademarked name for a product made from the mineral vermiculite.

Vermiculite was called the miracle mineral... once heated, it expanded and was used for potting soil, fireproofing and home insulation. It was a very popular product from the 50's to the late 70's.

The company says there's nothing to worry about.

Go to the Q and A on vermiculite


Vermiculite
Even though vermiculite by itself is harmless, the deposit in Libby, Montana, just across the border from British Columbia, was naturally contaminated with tremolite... an extremely carcinogenic form of asbestos.

The Libby mine was once the most important source of vermiculite in the world. But the mine has been closed since 1990. The site has been condemned. For decades mine workers were exposed to the asbestos dust, especially in the mill, where workers say they often worked in a cloudy haze of airborne particles. The mill spat out more than two tons of asbestos every day.

Toxic smoke from the
old Libby mine mill

The company provided dust masks but the employees didn't use them because they would clog up within minutes. Grace also installed several ventilators in response to requests from the state government.

The company's spokesman in Libby refused to answer our questions about workers' exposure to asbestos.

Grace headquarters in Maryland also refused to respond. But over the phone, a spokesman did say that the dangers of asbestos weren't well known before the 1970s. And yet, a confidential memo to the president of the company dated 1969 says "Tremolite asbestos is a definite health hazard". Grace had more proof that the asbestos was making their workers sick. During the 1960s the company regularly x-rayed its employees, and found that more than 90 percent of their long term employees had lung disease.


"They were warned by the Montana health department in the 60's. There were astronomical levels of asbestos. There were areas in the dry mill that had levels of asbestos fibres that you could develop asbestosis within a couple of weeks of exposure." -lung specialist Dr. Alan Whitehouse

Perley Vatland, who worked at the mill, died from asbestosis. He had thought heart trouble was the cause of his ill health. But it wasn't until he consulted doctors outside the town of Libby that he learned the truth.

Gayla Benefield,
daughter of Perley Vatland

"He was full of asbestos," says his daughter Gayla, "his heart was enlarged because of the nitro he had taken and the strain on his heart but his heart was not the problem. He simply had no lungs. And he was 61 at the time. He lived until he was 62."

Even more troubling: hundreds of the victims had no contact with the mine or its employees. They became sick just living in Libby. There was asbestos dust even on the local high school track. In fact, secret tests conducted by Grace in the early 1980s found the risk of contamination was extremely high for the young athletes.

But the deadly dust from Montana did not stay south of the border: it crossed into at least six provinces in Canada.

DOCUMENT SENT TO W.R. GRACE FROM VANCOUVER-BASED GRANT INDUSTRIES (DECEMBER 10, 1968)
"There is asbestos in the ore we receive from Libby.

I'm afraid that we may still be exposing our employees to an unnecessary health hazard.

I want to urge you to put someone on this subject before we get closed down or slapped with some pretty large claims from employees or the heirs. It won't take many more biopsy reports before we get fingered."

F. Hyde and Company in Montreal was processing Zonolite from Grace. In Ontario, processing plants were set up in St. Thomas, Ajax and Toronto. In the west, Grant Industries operated plants in Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver.

"This was shipped to sixty main processing plants across the U.S. and Canada," says Paul Peronard of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "to a total of 240 locations that, at a minimum, you have to investigate. Is there material there? What is left behind? All of a sudden, the scope emanating from Libby is huge."

Herbert Buchwald, former
Alberta health inspector

The first signs of trouble with Montana vermiculite in Canada appeared as early as the mid-1960s. In 1964, Herbert Buchwald inspected the Zonolite plant in Calgary for the Alberta Department of Public Health. "What was noticeable of course was the amount of dust in the air, particularly during the bagging process," he says, "and the workers were not wearing any respiratory protection." His study showed seven out of nine workers had respiratory problems.

The danger isn't limited to the processing plants. There was still asbestos in the insulating end product eventually sold to consumers. And even though it hasn't been sold since 1984, Zonolite Insulation is still in the attics of thousands of Canadian homes.

The insulation was easy to use. Consumers could install it themselves... just open a bag and pour it out. But the instructions never recommended the use of face masks. And there was no indication that the product contained asbestos.


"...no evidence of any adverse effects of our products on consumers...neither can we offer convincing evidence that they are absolutely safe."-W.R. Grace confidential document

Documents show the Grace company decided not to alarm its customers, even though it had received a stern warning from the operator of the plants in western Canada, Grant Industries.

In a document marked Personal and Confidential in 1977 the company said there was "no evidence of any adverse effects of our products on consumers". But it goes on to say "neither can we offer convincing evidence that they are absolutely safe." Grace believed that putting labels on the product would "result in substantial sales losses", and they considered it unlikely that consumers could prove that they had been harmed by exposure to Zonolite.

Paul Peronard, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency

In the United States, the EPA also conducted tests. It wanted to evaluate the risk of exposure in homes. "Every time we did anything that disturbed the insulation," says Peronard, "whether it was simply storing boxes or something as aggressive as putting a ceiling fan or cutting a hole, we got all sort of airborne fibers, not only in the attic space but spread to the rest of the house."

"Nobody really knows for sure whether this is going to be a severe medical hazard at this point or not," says Dr. Whitehouse, "it's going to be a while before it's found out." So the risk to consumer health is not well-known. But while waiting for definitive results, the EPA recommends that homeowners be very careful.

"If there is no reason to disturb it, don't. If it is butted away, stay away from it. If you have to do something, remodeling, plumbing, rewiring work, you should treat it as asbestos containing material," says Paul Peronard from the EPA.


Health Canada doesn't think it's necessary to warn homeowners because they recommend consulting professionals before renovating. The problem is that most professionals have no idea there's asbestos in Zonolite.


An electron microscope sample of Zonolite from barracks at Shilo military base in Manitoba. The sharp, needle-like fibres are asbestos
In Ontario and Quebec, as in many other provinces, there's no health warning about old Zonolite insulation. A reference used both in Quebec and Manitoba is the Quebec's Worker's Compensation Board, (CSST) Toxicology Index. The entry for Zonolite now clearly mentions the risks of asbestos tremolite contamination. But this notice was added to the index only hours before our interview with a CSST official.

And yet, the CSST knew about the asbestos problem at Grace's Montana mine since the late 80's. The Zonolite entry that existed prior to our interview shows no mention of asbestos. It may be just an oversight but the CSST knew about the risks and failed to issue a warning for more than twelve years.

W.R. Grace is now facing a flood of lawsuits related to its products that contained asbestos. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2001.


Vermiculite insulation
Q and A
More information about vermiculite

What is vermiculite?
Vermiculite is a volcanic material compound that expands when it is heated and has the unusual property of expanding into worm-like or accordion-like pieces. They are usually the size of a nickel or dime. Vermiculite has been used in various industries for more than 80 years. It is used in the construction, agricultural, horticultural and industrial markets.

Where are vermiculite reserves?
Vermiculite is found throughout the world. Countries that hold commercial vermiculite mines include Australia, Brazil, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the United States. The vermiculite commercially available today comes from deposits that are not considered harmful.

What brand of vermiculite is dangerous?
More than 70 per cent of the vermiculite ore mined in the world came from the Libby mine, which has been closed since 1990. This particular mine was unusual because the area also included a natural deposit of tremolite asbestos. As a result, much of the vermiculite from the Libby mine was contaminated with tremolite asbestos. According to experts, it's a very toxic form of asbestos, 10 times as carcinogenic as the more prevalent chrysotile asbestos. That vermiculite was sold under the brand name Zonolite Attic Insulation.

How is W.R. Grace Co. involved in this issue?
W.R. Grace bought the vermiculite mine in Libby in 1963 from the Zonolite Company. More than 1.5 billion pounds of raw contaminated ore was sent to processing plants across Canada. From a third to a half of the vermiculite from this mine was sold as attic insulation from the 1940s until 1984, when its sale by the company was discontinued.

Was Zonolite widely used?
According to documents from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), between 15 and 35 million U.S. homes and businesses were insulated with Zonolite. Documents show about one tenth of the production from Libby was shipped to Canada. It was even on the list of eligible materials for the federal government's Canadian Home Insulation Program (CHIP), a program that offered grants to homeowners from 1977 to the mid-1980s.

What if I have Zonolite insulation?
Stay away from it. If it's left untouched in the attic, there should be minimal or no risk at all. The asbestos fibres must be airborne to be inhaled. Each time you breathe asbestos fibres into your lungs, you increase the chance of developing health problems.

The fibres can become trapped in the lungs and can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs' lining. The risk is linked to exposure. It becomes risky is when you have activities that bring you up in the attic, like storing boxes, anything that disturb the material will cause airborne fibres almost immediately.

According to the U.S. EPA, there are cases of individuals who got asbestosis from four or five significant contacts with the insulation material. Tradesman face a higher risk.

What if I'm renovating?
If you are doing work in the attic yourself, such as remodeling, plumbing or rewiring, you should treat Zonolite as asbestos-containing material. You should wear a proper respirator and change your clothes. You have to make sure the fibres won't spread it to other areas of your home. It is recommended to hire a contractor who is properly equipped to work with asbestos.

What should I do if I think I have Zonolite in my attic?
Do not let children play in the area. Do not sweep the Zonolite or use a normal vacuum cleaner. This will re-circulate the dangerous fibres, which could linger in the air for days. There are vacuum cleaners on the market that come with highly sensitive HEPA filters that will capture the fibres.

My home insulation looks like vermiculite. How do I know it’s Zonolite from Libby?
It's impossible to tell just by looking at it. Often, empty Zonolite kraft paper bags were left in the attic. If the bags show that ore was processed by WR Grace Canada, Grant Industries or F. Hyde and Co, the product is probably from Libby and is likely contaminated. If you know you have vermiculite insulation in your attic or walls and you're concerned about it, it probably makes sense to test the material to see if it contains asbestos.

Can I test the material myself?
If you want to have a sample analyzed, it is suggested that you hire a trained consultant or contractor to collect the sample and get it analyzed at a laboratory. There are numerous consulting companies that perform this kind of asbestos analysis work.

According to Bruce Stewart from Pinchin Environmental in Mississauga, there should be several samples taken since asbestos concentration may vary from one vermiculite piece to another. Also, specialized consultants should be looking for traces of asbestos, even below 0.1 per cent on a weight-to-weight basis. Normally a concentration of less than 0.1 per cent is considered safe. But vermiculite is extremely friable and can release a very high number of asbestos fibres in the air when disturbed even if the concentration of asbestos is considered very low.

If there is asbestos in the insulation, should I have it removed?
Before taking that step, homeowners should consider a number of factors. First, removing asbestos-containing materials is typically very expensive. If a significant amount of material is involved, it will probably costs thousands of dollars.

Secondly, due to the physical characteristics of vermiculite, there's a low potential the material is getting into the air. If the insulation is not exposed to the home environment (for example, it's sealed behind wallboards and floorboards or is isolated in the attic which is vented outside) the best advice would be to leave it alone.

But if you have a house that needs to be renovated or you use the attic, you expose yourself every time you go up there and risk spreading it to the rest of your house. In those circumstances you are better off removing it says the U.S. EPA. To avoid conflict of interest, have the insulation tested by one firm and removed by another. Carefully check the credentials of those you hire.

What do Canadian health authorities have to say?
Health Canada has not issued any guidelines or warnings to homeowners about this product yet. There are no official online Canadian sources about Zonolite, except for a short entry in Quebec Worker's compensation board (CSST) toxicology database.

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pinchin Environmental, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Radio-Canada


http://www.libbyissues.com/


From 1963 to 1990, W. R. Grace & Co. operated a vermiculite mine and processing mill in Libby, Montana. News reports suggest heightened health concerns in the community relating to the possible effects of exposure to asbestos, a natural component of vermiculite.

Grace’s concern is that the people of Libby have many questions and few answers. It is important to provide answers and demonstrate our commitment to the people of Libby. To that end:

  • Grace pledged full cooperation with government agencies in their efforts to determine if there is an ongoing risk to Libby residents from our former operations, which were closed in 1990. We have no evidence that there is, but we, like the people in Libby, want to know the facts.
  • Grace urged federal and state authorities to move forward with the investigations in an open and expeditious manner.
  • Grace maintains contact with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and continues to respond to the agency's requests for historical data on our operations in Libby.
  • Grace is providing funding for community health screenings and medical coverage to anyone in and around Libby who is diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness.
EPA asserted that its initial test results showed the presence of asbestos at two former Grace properties in Libby—the old vermiculite loading site at the mouth of Rainy Creek and an old warehouse building on the city’s industrial park site. Notwithstanding the very low levels of asbestos detected, Grace offered to remediate these locations.

In preliminary air-sampling tests of 32 homes by the EPA, very low levels of asbestos fibers were detected in one residence. Other early sampling results announced by the EPA were encouraging, but we recognize more sampling remains to be done.

In January 2000, Grace announced a sweeping three-part health care program to detect and provide medical insurance for anyone in Libby diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses.

Specifically, Grace pledged to:

  • donate $250,000 a year for as long as necessary to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby to provide independent health screening to anyone in Libby who wants it
  • assure that the hospital has the necessary infrastructure to conduct independent screenings
  • provide medical coverage to anyone in Libby who, after receiving an independent screening, is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease
We take our responsibilities to the people of Libby and the situation there very seriously. This is a unique situation deserving a dedicated solution. People who have concerns about their exposure to asbestos now will have an independent place to go and be tested. If anyone is diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, they will have insurance to cover the medical costs of treating it.

Grace presented its initial donation of $250,000 to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in February 2000. This donation is only a first step, and there are no strings attached. St. John's indicated it will use the check to help fund the planning and development of programs aimed at helping community members who have asbestosis and related diseases. Grace promised further funding as needs become clearly identified. We stand by our commitment to do the right thing for the people of Libby. We will continue to be responsible to the people of Libby affected with asbestos-related diseases.

Grace reopened an office in Libby to assist the state and the EPA in their ongoing investigation. We also wanted to be available locally so our former employees and anyone else with a question about our operations could talk directly to us. The Grace Libby office is located at 317 Mineral Avenue, telephone number 406-293-3964.


http://cbc.ca/national/news/deadly_dust/

Asbestos contamination in vermiculite and vermiculite products has become a national concern to a variety of federal agencies (EPA, OSHA, CPSC and ATSDR) and to many private citizens throughout the country.  A tremendous amount of information has been made available to the public via print, television/radio and the Internet.  EPA's vermiculite pages provides users with basic information about Vermiculite and its uses, factsheets, Question and Answer documents, reports and links to EPA Regional vermiculite pages. Other relevant information, not included here, may be available from federal, state and local governments, industry, trade associations and international sources.  


Vermiculite and Its Uses
Question and Answer Documents and Fact Sheets

Reports
EPA Regional Vermiculite Links


Vermiculite and Its Uses

What is Vermiculite?

     Vermiculite is the mineralogical name given to hydrated laminar magnesium-aluminum-ironsilicate which resembles mica in appearance. All vermiculite ores contain a range of other minerals that were formed along with the vermiculite in the rock. Vermiculite ores from some sources have been found to contain asbestos minerals but asbestos is not intrinsic to vermiculite and only a few ore bodies have been found to contain more than tiny trace amounts.

     Vermiculite mines are surface operations where ore is separated from other minerals, and then screened or classified into several basic particle sizes. Vermiculite is found in various parts of the world. Locations of the predominant commercial mines are in Australia, Brazil, China, Kenya, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe.

     When subjected to heat, vermiculite has the unusual property of exfoliating or expanding into worm-like pieces (the name vermiculite is derived from the Latin 'vermiculare' - to breed worms). This characteristic of exfoliation, the basis for commercial use of the mineral, is the result of the mechanical separation of the layers by the rapid conversion of contained water to steam. The increase in bulk volume of commercial grades is 8 to 12 times, but individual flakes may exfoliate as many as 30 times. There is a color change during expansion that is dependent upon the composition of the vermiculite and furnace temperature.

How Is Vermiculite Used?
Vermiculite has been used in various industries for over 80 years. It is used in the construction, agricultural, horticultural and industrial markets.

Generic Applications -

Loose Fill Carriers
Lightweight Aggregates Soil Conditioners
Asbestos Substitutions Density Modifiers
Absorbents Fire Protection
Industrial Heat Insulation  

Specific Applications -

CONSTRUCTION

Acoustic Finishes Gypsum Plaster
Air Setting Binder Board Loft Insulation
Fire Protection (internal/external) Sound Deadening Compounds
Floor and Roof Screed (lightweight insulating concrete)  

AGRICULTURAL

Animal Feed Pesticides
Anti-caking Material Seed Encapsulant
Bulking Agent Soil Conditioner
Fertilizer  

HORTICULTURAL

Blocking Mixes Seed Germination
Hydroponics Seedling Wedge Mix
Micro-propagation Sowing Composts
Potting Mixes Twin Scaling Bulbs
Root Cuttings  

INDUSTRIAL

Absorbent Packing Insulation Blocks and Shapes
Brake Pads and Brake Shoes Insulation - High and Low Temperature
Castables Molten Metal Insulation
Dispersions Molded Products
Drilling Muds Nuclear Waste Disposal
Filtration Paints
Fireproof Safes Perfume Absorbent
Fixation of Hazardous Materials Sealants
Furnaces  


Question and Answer Documents and Fact Sheets

Vermiculite Attic Insulation Fact Sheet - As of November, 2000

EPA Fact Shee
t [PDF] - Asbestos Contaminated Vermiculite

Asbestos Contamination in Vermiculite Fact Sheet [PDF] - As of February, 2000

Question and Answer Document [PDF] - As of March, 2000


Reports

 Sampling and Analysis of Consumer Garden Products That Contain Vermiculite [PDF] - The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and US EPA Region 10 (Seattle, WA) conducted independent surveys of consumer garden products containing vermiculite.  OPPT and US EPA Region 10 are jointly releasing the findings as a single report. 



 EPA Regional Vermiculite Links 

EPA Region 1 - Q and A Regarding Vermiculite Insulation

EPA Region 8 - EPA Action in Libby, MT

EPA Region 10 - Vermiculite Homepage


 


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/uncivilaction/

The long list of links below are not accurate. The actual links can be found at the webpage above. These should keep you busy for several hours.

A town left to die

Tiny Libby, Mont., depended for years on the jobs at a vermiculite mine. But the mine is closed now, and a P-I investigation shows the town is paying a tragic price for those jobs. Hundreds of former miners, their wives and children, and other townspeople have either died or been diagnosed with fatal illness from asbestos the mine released into the air. No one stepped in to stop the dying. Now the town wonders when it will end, and if the town's children are still at risk.

(Also see "Asbestos, The Forgotten Killer." The EPA finds asbestos in many common garden products. Plus, the P-I discovers that some vermicuite from a mine where workers and their families died from asbestos exposure is still available in the Seattle area.)

(Note: Also see a chronological list of the P-I's extensive coverage of asbestos-related issues.)


Hundreds are dead or dying
Asbestos from a now-closed vermiculite mine on a mountain near Libby has killed 192 people and left at least 375 with fatal diseases. Doctors say the people of Libby will keep dying for decades. (Nov. 18, 1999)

It all started with the search for gold
Prospectors first put pick and shovel to Zonolite Mountain 119 years ago. Many mining-claim records are missing or illegible, but what is known is that almost 80 percent of the world's vermiculite came from Libby. (Nov. 18, 1999)

While people are dying, government agencies pass buck
Everyone seems to agree someone needs to do do something about the hundreds of people from Libby who have either died or been diagnosed with fatal diseases after being exposed to tremolite asbestos from a vermiculite mine. But every official and every agency has a reason why, so far, they have not been that somebody. (Nov. 19. 1999)

'No one ever told us that stuff could kill you'
Darlene Joy Riley called her cancer "George." Last year, George killed her. The story of one woman who didn't work at W.R. Grace's vermiculite mine but died after getting asbestos fibers in her lungs. (Nov. 19, 1999)

>> The History of W.R. Grace Co. (Nov. 18, 1999)

>> Libby's lost miners: A gallery of eight who died (Nov. 19, 1999)

>> Group organizes to help victims (Nov. 19, 1999)

>> Authorities sending teams to Montana mining town (Nov. 22, 1999)

>> Montana's governor knows asbestos danger (Nov. 25, 1999)

>> Finally, Libby asbestos victims have their say (Dec. 3, 1999)

>> Initial tests reveal areas of asbestos in and around Libby (Dec. 3, 1999)

>> Deadly ore was shipped around U.S., Canada (Dec. 22, 1999)

>> Just 23 months hauling ore -- dead 36 years later (Dec. 22, 1999)

>> Asbestos study is expanded nationwide (Jan. 18, 2000)

>> Grace to pick up medical bills in tainted town (Jan. 22, 2000)

>> Immediate cleanup sought in mining town (Feb. 2, 2000)

>> Company blocked OSHA's efforts to establish exposure standards (Feb. 12, 2000)

>> Far from Libby, Montanans fight asbestos measure (March 2, 2000)

>> Mine-safety agency takes action (March 17, 2000)

>> Grace backs off pledge to clean up asbestos (April 27, 2000)

>> W.R. Grace buys its old Libby mine, then bans EPA investigators from it (July 24, 2000)

>> EPA asks: Why did dying miners get no help? (Aug. 18, 2000)

>> Labor Dept. enters Libby's asbestos fight (Aug. 21, 2000)

>> EPA sues for access to Libby vermiculite mine (Sept. 15, 2000)

>> Exposure in Libby blamed for high rate of lung disease (Feb. 23, 2001)

>> Asbestos confusion exposing millions (Feb. 28, 2001)

>> By any name, asbestos is still a killer (Feb. 28, 2001)

>> Murray seeks asbestos hearings (April 2, 2001)

>> W.R. Grace files for bankruptcy (April 3, 2001)

>> Up to 30% tested in Libby hurt by asbestos (August 24, 2001)

>> Asbestos victims feel betrayed (May 16, 2002)

Nationwide Warning On Asbestos In Insulation

Aug. 14, 2000

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Don't disturb the insulation in the attic or walls of

your home unless you're certain it does not contain vermiculite.

That was the clear message Monday after federal health officials warned that

insulation that was produced from a W.R. Grace & Co. mine in Montana is a

danger to workers or homeowners who handle it because of the asbestos it

contains.

The Public Health Service has asked the National Institute of Occupational

Safety and Health to "look into the current worker exposures that may be

dealing with these products and issue an alert if need be," said Aubrey K.

Miller, an official in the health service's Denver region.

Testing of Zonolite-brand insulation, along with Grace internal documents,

shows that "even minimal handling by workers or residents poses a

substantial health risk," the health service said in a recent memorandum to

NIOSH.

In Washington state, some 53,000 homes may have the dangerous insulation.

Leave It Alone!

The risk to homeowners would be small if they leave the insulation alone,

said the memo's author, Hugh Sloan, an assistant surgeon general.

"My sense is that homeowners themselves, if that remains undisturbed,

shouldn't have any worry," Sloan said.

The insulation was used in millions of homes and businesses nationwide.

Manchester resident Robert Parks, 73, installed Zonolite insulation in in

his home 30 years ago -- and now has the lung disease asbestosis.

"I'm getting shorter of breath all the time, and specially if I take walks

and I walk too fast or something like that," he says.

Company Knew, Newspaper Says

A copyrighted article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Monday said the

Grace company knew in the mid-'70s there was asbestos in Zonolite. The P-I

said the company decided against warning consumers, afraid it would hurt

sales.

In a statement on its Web site, the Grace company said the insulation was

primarily put in older homes and seldom used in new construction.

"We believe now, as we did during the time we sold the product, that there

is no unreasonable risk of injury or illness associated with the presence of

this insulation in homes," the statement said.

On The Net

www.grace.com

search.epa.gov

www.cdc.gov

www.osha-slc.gov

Brownish, tan pellets about 1/16" - 1/8", somewhat shiny irregular surface.

Sort of like a small squarish shaped crystal. Soft. It was (and probably

still is) used as an additive to potting soils. Widely sold in garden

centers. I've heard there are other colors, but I've never seen them.

I have seen it installed in attics as insulation once or twice. Was also

poured into cavities of concrete block walls for insulation.

http://www.vermiculite.org/default.htm

Mark,

In Libby, Montana the location of the Grace Vermiculite Mine, the E.P.A. has

been investigating deaths asscoiated to the mining of Vermiculite, as it

contains asbestos.

I can see vermiculite in any home in my area that is between 1920 thru 1970.

It was sold in bags, and I often see the bags in the attic. This product

shines, is flakey,and breaks up quicklyand turns to a powder when you

squeeze it between your hand. USE CAUTION

Another reason to always wear good quality resporator when in an attic. I use

"Due to the age of the home , this home may have "Asbestos Containing

Materials" we recommend further evaluation by a State Certified Asbestos

Inspector.

BillSchwahn

BridgerViewInspections

www.montanainspector.com.

Vermiculite Insulation

For a printable version (pdf) of this fact sheet, click here

What is vermiculite?

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral used in construction, insulation and gardening products. It looks like shiny, small pieces of popcorn. Vermiculite came from mines in Libby, Montana (closed in 1990) as well as other mines in the U.S. and other countries. Vermiculite is still mined and distributed for a number of uses, including insulation.

Why should I be concerned about vermiculite insulation?

Much of the Libby vermiculite was used as attic insulation. It was sold from 1963 to 1984 under the product name Zonolite. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated in 1985 that 940,000 American homes contained, or had contained, Zonolite attic insulation.

Over 70% of vermiculite ore mined in the world came from Libby. The ore from this mine also included a natural deposit of amphibole asbestos. Unfortunately, much of the vermiculite from Libby was contaminated with amphibole/tremolite asbestos. The asbestos fibers are invisible to the eye and can only be professionally detected. Homeowners should consider the following:

  • Vermiculite used for residential insulation may contain asbestos.
  • If you are unsure whether the insulation in your home contains vermiculite, avoid disturbing it until either you or a professional can confirm that it is vermiculite.
  • Use personal protection (see other side) when doing minor home projects; seek professional advice for large projects.

If I have vermiculite insulation in my home, how can it be tested?

If you have vermiculite insulation, it can be tested for asbestos. You can hire a certified asbestos inspector (call the Division of Public Health Asbestos and Lead Section for information about contractors and labs (608) 261-6876), or collect the sample yourself. If you collect the sample yourself, follow these precautions:

  • A teaspoon is a good tool to collect a small sample. Put one teaspoon sized sample into a small plastic container with a tight fitting lid (e.g. 35 mm film canister).
  • Wear a HEPA respirator (available at most major home improvement stores, dust masks are not sufficient). Use a spray bottle to dampen the sample area.
  • Disturb the material as little as possible; only a small amount is needed for analysis.
  • Wash your hands and wipe the outside of the container off with a wet disposable towel.
  • Include your name, address and telephone number when mailing your sample. Indicate you want the sample analyzed for asbestos.

What if the insulation is found to contain asbestos?

There are several factors to consider in planning your response. For example, how much asbestos was found in the sample, the amount and extent of vermiculite insulation installed in the house, and how accessible is it. You may also consider testing the indoor air of your home to determine if asbestos is being released into your living area.

If asbestos is found, should it be removed?

Homeowners may wish to consider the following points:

  • First, due to the physical characteristics of vermiculite and where it may be installed, the potential for contamination of the air throughout your home may be low.
  • Second, if the insulation will not be disturbed and is not contaminating the home environment (e.g. it’s sealed behind tight walls, floors, or isolated in an unfinished attic, which is vented outside) it may be best to leave it alone. Furthermore, signs should be posted inside the attic saying "Cancer Hazard: Insulation contains asbestos, do not disturb or create dust."
  • Last, if home renovations involve removal of walls or where vermiculite insulation is located, extra precaution is necessary and removal prior to renovation may be warranted.

What can I do to prevent asbestos exposure?

The following steps can help minimize asbestos exposure during very minor home renovations (such as installing a ceiling light, bathroom fan, or computer cable):

  • Wear gloves, eye protection and a HEPA respirator (not just a dust mask).
  • Tape off rooms with plastic sheeting to prevent contaminating other areas of a home; keep the vermiculite damp to prevent spreading dust.
  • Keep windows open for good ventilation and wipe up all dust and debris using wet cleaning methods (wet-wiping and wet mopping).
  • Do not use a home/shop vacuum to clean up dust or debris.
  • If renovations involve extensive removal or exposure to asbestos containing insulation, it’s best to hire a professional, state-certified asbestos removal contractor.

What are the asbestos health risks?

Asbestos fibers must be breathed in to cause disease. Disturbing vermiculite insulation or dust containing asbestos will result in exposure unless precautions are taken. The health risks vary, depending on the amount and frequency of exposure.

Those at highest risk would be long-term vermiculite processing plant employees or workers regularly installing or handling in-place vermiculite products without lung protection. Those at lower risk include people who occasionally disturbed attic insulation during activity in the attic or when doing minor "handyman" jobs. The lowest risk would be for people who live in a home where the vermiculite insulation is isolated and they have had no direct contact with the materials.

Asbestos-exposed workers, family members, and those living in the neighborhoods of asbestos plants have developed a rare type of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. Asbestos can also cause permanent lung damage known as asbestosis, which causes shortness of breath and increases the risk of serious lung infections.

For more information

Contact your local public health agency, or the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH), for health related questions (608) 266-1120; for a list of state-certified contractors, consultants and labs, call the DPH Asbestos and Lead section, (608) 261-6876.

Also contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

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PPH 45007  11/2000

Last Revised:  January 07, 2003

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