Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne.
Disturbed asbestos in the attic.
If you absolutely have to go in your attic and it contains vermiculite insulation you should limit the number of trips you make and shorten the length of those trips in order to help limit your potential exposure.
Asbestos isn t like radioactivity which can be a hazard because it constantly emits radiation.
Asbestos only becomes a problem if it becomes airborne and gets into your lungs at a high enough dose.
The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type amphibole of asbestos.
Any disturbance could potentially release asbestos fibers into the air.
The dangers of asbestos when disturbed if asbestos is crushed drilled excavated or otherwise disturbed even by natural erosion the fibers become airborne.
Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos.
One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation.
There is one primary source of asbestos attic insulation.
In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles.
Consider this statement from research titled zonolite attic insulation exposure studies where even the suggested method for removal by the manufacturer grace created a very unsafe condition.
The insulation was sold under the brand name zonolite.
Used for fireproofing and insulation asbestos was a cheap and effective material that became an industry standard for buildings across the country.
Attic insulation in older homes may contain asbestos that could fall through ceiling cracks.
He decided to replace the existing insulation with new fiberglass insulation to save money in the winter months.
When released into the air especially in enclosed spaces where it can concentrate the fibrous dust can enter the body either by inhalation or swallowing.
While remodeling the attic of his 1960s home john found piles of brown pebble like insulation.
Asbestos hardly needs an introduction anymore as most homeowners should be schooled in the general dangers of disturbing and breathing asbestos fibers.
You should assume the vermiculite contains asbestos and do not disturb it.
If you re concerned about a particular material in your home you can call an asbestos inspection company to come in and have the material tested.
