Is it safe to buy a house with vermiculite insulation?

As we touched upon, the EPA agrees that vermiculite insulation containing less than one percent of asbestos is safe to be used within a home. This sort of vermiculite insulation typically comes in the form of Zonolite, a common form of insulation that appears as pebble-like substances.

When was vermiculite insulation banned?

1990
Vermiculite Mostly Found in Attics It was mined there for more than 50 years, ending in 1990. The insulation, which was known by the brand name Zonolite, is most often found in residential attics. What made the Libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits.

Should you remove vermiculite insulation?

The EPA recommends that vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed. Airborne asbestos fibers present a health risk through inhalation, so the first step is to not disturb the material, which could release fibers into the air. If you disturb the insulation, you may inhale some asbestos fibers.

Does vermiculite insulation contain asbestos?

Not all vermiculite products contain asbestos, but some do. An EPA study showed some vermiculite products contain low levels of asbestos. Asbestos is found primarily in the unmixed vermiculite product although some was found in pre-mixed potting soils.

What percentage of vermiculite has asbestos?

While the actual percentage of asbestos in bulk vermiculite is very low (typically <1% or trace asbestos), should these fibres be disturbed and become airborne, the potential to inhale them is increased, and poses a potential risk to long- term health.

How bad is vermiculite insulation?

Is all vermiculite a health concern? Vermiculite itself has not been shown to be a health problem. However, some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres, which can cause problems if inhaled.

How can you tell if vermiculite has asbestos?

How can I tell if my vermiculite insulation contains asbestos? The majority of all vermiculite insulation pro- duced before 1990 used contaminated vermicu- lite from Libby. Asbestos fibers in vermiculite are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Only a trained technician using a microscope can see asbestos fibers.

How can I tell if my vermiculite insulation contains asbestos?

How do I get rid of vermiculite in my attic?

Vermiculite Removal: Certified crew use the latest external industrial strength vacuums with sealed hoses and heavy duty filtration to completely remove all the contaminated vermiculite. Disposal: Asbestos vermiculite is collected in air tight containers and disposed of in a responsible manner.

How do I know if my attic has vermiculite insulation?

Identifying Insulation That is Made From Vermiculite Vermiculite insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually gray-brown or silver-gold in color.

Can you test vermiculite for asbestos?

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.

Should I remove vermiculite from attic?

Can I remove the vermiculite attic insulation myself? The EPA strongly recommends that “you should never attempt to remove the insulation yourself.