VERMICULITE INSULATION
Vermiculite is a volcanic mineral that is fire-resistant and has strong insulation properties. It was incorporated into home insulation products branded Zonolite Attic Insulation in Canada and installed in hundreds of thousands of homes across the country.
Vermiculate from the Libby Mine in Montana were used in insulation products sold under the brand name Zonolite Attic Insulation in Canada. Health Canada notes that vermiculate from the Montana mine may contain amphibole asbestos, which when inhaled may cause serious health problems, including cancer.
If you have Vermiculite insulation: stay away from it – if it’s left untouched in the attic, there should be minimal or no risk at all, according to Health Canada. 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 or the abdominal cavity.
It’s impossible to tell just by looking at Vermiculite where it was produced or whether it contains asbestos or not. Often, empty Zonolite kraft paper bags were left in the attic. If the bags show that ore was processed by W.R. Grace Canada, Grant Industries or F. Hyde and Co., the product is probably from Libby. 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 whether it contains asbestos. 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.
Removing asbestos-containing materials is typically very expensive. If a significant amount of material is involved, it will probably cost thousands of dollars. Due to the physical characteristics of vermiculite, the risk of the material getting into the air is low. If the insulation is not exposed to the home environment – for example, it’s sealed behind wallboards and floorboards or is isolated in an attic that is vented outside – the best advice would be to leave it alone.
If you are renovating and you suspect you have vermiculate insulation, you should hire an asbestos removal professional before proceeding. Health Canada also suggests sealing cracks and holes in the window frames, door frames and walls. If you suspect Zonolite was installed in your attic, seal up any cracks in the ceilings of the rooms below.
Source: Dave Watson, Canadian Residential Inspection Services (780) 909-8945
