Current Best Practices for Vermiculite Attic Insulation - May 2003
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offices have received a large number of phone calls from citizens concerned about vermiculite insulation in their home that might be contaminated with asbestos. EPA is gathering more information about vermiculite insulation and other products containing vermiculite. If you suspect vermiculite insulation is in your home, the safest thing is to leave the material alone. If you decide to remove or must otherwise disturb the material due to a renovation project, consult with an experienced asbestos contractor. The following information provides a common sense approach to help you find out what kind of insulation is in your home and decide what to do if you have vermiculite insulation.
- What is vermiculite insulation?
- Photo - Vermiculite Insulation
- Do I have vermiculite insulation?
- Photo - Different Grades of Vermiculite
- Photo - Close Up of Vermiculite Insulation in an
Attic
- Photo - Attic Containing Vermiculite Insulation
- Is vermiculite insulation a problem?
- How does asbestos cause health problems?
- What should I do if I have vermiculite attic
insulation?
- What if I occasionally have to go into my attic?
- What are the next steps?
- Is my health at risk from previous exposures to the asbestos in the insulation?
- Where can I get information on testing or removal of the insulation?
- What if I have work-related exposure to vermiculite?
- Where can I get more information?
What is vermiculite insulation?
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that has the unusual
property of expanding into worm-like accordion shaped pieces when heated.
The expanded vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, absorbent,
and odorless material. These properties allow vermiculite to be used to
make numerous products, including attic insulation.
Photo - Vermiculite Insulation -
Do I have vermiculite insulation?
Vermiculite can be purchased in various forms for various uses. Sizes
of vermiculite products range from very fine particles to large (coarse)
pieces nearly an inch long. Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble-like,
pour-in product and is usually light-brown or gold in color. The pictures
below show several samples of vermiculite attic insulation.
Photo - Different Grades of Vermiculite -
Photo - Close Up of Vermiculite Insulation in
an Attic -
Photo - Attic Containing Vermiculite Insulation -
Is vermiculite insulation a problem?
Prior to its close in 1990, much of the worlds 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 US Facilities and in other countries
which have low levels of contamination in the finished material.
How does asbestos cause health problems?
Asbestos can cause health problems when inhaled into the lungs. If products
containing asbestos are disturbed, thin, lightweight asbestos fibers are
released into the air. Persons breathing the air may breathe in asbestos
fibers. Continued exposure increases the amount of fibers that remain
in the lung. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may result in lung
diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma. Smoking increases
your risk of developing illness from asbestos exposure.
What should I do if I have vermiculite attic
insulation?
DO NOT DISTURB IT. Any disturbance
has the potential to release asbestos fibers into the air. Limiting the
number of trips you make to your attic and shortening the length of those
trips can help limit your potential exposure. EPA and ATSDR strongly recommend
that:
- Vermiculite insulation be left
undisturbed in your attic. Due to the uncertainties with existing
testing techniques, it is best to assume that the material may contain
asbestos.
- You should not store boxes or other items
in your attic if retrieving the material will disturb the insulation.
- Children should not be allowed to play in
an attic with open areas of vermiculite insulation.
- If you plan to remodel or conduct renovations
that would disturb the vermiculite, hire professionals trained and
certified to handle asbestos to safely remove the material.
- You should never attempt to remove the insulation yourself. Hire professionals trained and certified to safely remove the material.
What if I occasionally have to go into my attic?
EPA and ATSDR strongly recommend that homeowners make every effort not
to disturb vermiculite insulation in their attics. If you occasionally
have to go into your attic, current best practices state you should:
- Make every effort to stay on the floored part of your attic and to not disturb the insulation.
- If you must perform activities that may disturb the attic insulation such as moving boxes (or other materials), do so as gently as possible to minimize the disturbance.
- Leave the attic immediately after the disturbance.
- If you need work done in your attic such as the installation of cable or utility lines, hire trained and certified professionals who can safely do the work.
- It is possible that vermiculite attic insulation can sift through cracks in the ceiling, around light fixtures, or around ceiling fans. You can prevent this by sealing the cracks and holes that insulation could pass through.
- Common dust masks are not effective against asbestos fibers.
For information on the requirements for wearing a respirator mask,
visit the following OSHA website:
http://osha.gov/SLTC/respiratory protection/index.html
What are the next steps?
The guidance provided in this brochure reflects the current testing
technology and knowledge of precautions one may take regarding vermiculite
attic insulation. EPA is initiating further studies on vermiculite attic
insulation and pursuing other asbestos related issues. Additional information
will be provided to the public via the EPA and ATSDR web sites and through
additional outreach materials as it becomes available.
Is my health at risk from previous
exposures to the asbestos in the insulation?
If you removed or disturbed the insulation, it is possible that you inhaled
some asbestos fibers. Also the disturbance may have resulted in the fibers
being deposited into other areas of the home. Exposure to asbestos increases
your risk of developing lung disease. That risk is made worse by smoking.
In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance
of developing harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may take several
years to develop following exposure. If you are concerned about possible
exposure, consult a physician who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist).
Where can I get information on testing or removal of the insulation?
EPA
and ATSDR strongly recommend using a trained and certified professional
to conduct removal work. Removing the insulation yourself could potentially
spread asbestos fibers throughout your home, putting you and your family
at risk of inhaling these fibers.
For certified asbestos removal professionals
in your area, refer to your local Yellow Pages. Your State Environmental
Agency can confirm that the companys credentials are current. You
can find your State Agency at: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/whereyoulive.htm.
Currently, there are specific technical issues involving vermiculite sampling
that can complicate testing for the presence of asbestos fibers and interpreting
the risk from exposure. EPA and ATSDR are not recommending at this time
that homeowners have vermiculite attic insulation tested for asbestos.
As testing techniques are refined, EPA and ATSDR will provide information
to the public on the benefits of testing that produce more definitive
and accurate test results.
What if I have work-related exposure to vermiculite?
Workers who have had significant past exposure, or have significant ongoing
exposure to asbestos, to vermiculite from Libby, or to other asbestos
contaminated materials should consider getting a medical exam from a physician
who knows about diseases caused by asbestos. For more information and
to obtain a fact sheet concerning occupational exposure to vermiculite,
contact the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
at: 1-800-35-NIOSH, or http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html.
Where can I get more information?
Information on the Agencys guidance on asbestos and vermiculite,
including insulation and horticultural products, has previously been available
on EPAs website. Additional information on vermiculite and asbestos
is available from the following sources:
General Information
- EPAs Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Assistance Information Service: Asbestos Line:
1-800-471-7127- EPA Asbestos Ombudsman: 1-800-368-5888
- EPA's Asbestos Home Page: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/
Health Information
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov
Worker Safety
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA: ) http://www.osha.gov
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
Consumer Products
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): http://www.cpsc.gov
Mineralogy
- United States Geological Survey (USGS): http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/
Prepared by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute for Occupational Safety and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, May 2003. EPA publication 747-F-03-001