Vermiculite Insulation Asbestos Removal

Vermiculite is a silver-gold to gray-brown mineral that is flat and shiny in its natural state. When heated to around 1000 degrees C, it pops (or puffs up) which creates pockets of air. This expanded form, and the fact that vermiculite is fire-resistant, made the material suitable for use as insulation. Vermiculite is a was mainly used in wall and attic insulation up through 1990. A mine near Libby, Montana, was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990. There was also a deposit of asbestos at that mine, so the vermiculite from Libby was contaminated with asbestos.

Technically, vermiculite is a hydrated magnesium iron aluminium silicate mineral in the form of shiny flakes, which are usually golden brown to blackish in colour.

Vermiculite itself has not been shown to be a health problem. However, some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres, which can cause problems if inhaled. Not all vermiculite contains asbestos fibres, however, if you believe that your home may contain vermiculite insulation, it is reasonable to assume that it may be contaminated with asbestos.

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that is perfectly safe when pure. Unfortunately, an estimated 75 percent of it came from Libby, Montana, where it usually was contaminated with toxic amphibole asbestos. Exposure to asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly cancer.

• Vermiculite Attic Insulation
• Vermiculite Insulation In Walls
• Vermiculite Chimney Insulation