Vermiculite Attic Insulation Asbestos

Asbestos fibers can cause respiratory system and lung diseases including cancer.

Vermiculite attic insulation asbestos. The zonolite attic insulation trust was established in 2014 to help homeowners with the cost of removing zonolite attic insulation from their homes. Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble like pour in product and is usually light brown gray or gold in color. Vermiculite insulation has a pebble like appearance and typically is a grayish brown or silvery gold color. The vermiculite from libby is part of the longest man made environmental disaster in american history.

The epa says that vermiculite insulation which is the pebbly stuff found in attics of many older homes is only risky if it contains more than one percent asbestos. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. That vermiculite is the zonolite brand. What made the libby vermiculite so dangerous was its proximity to asbestos deposits.

However some vermiculite insulation contained asbestos fibres which can cause problems if inhaled. There was also a deposit of asbestos at that mine so the vermiculite from libby was contaminated with asbestos. Concerns about asbestos contaminated vermiculite insulation a mine near libby montana was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the united states from 1919 to 1990. Grace operations and products.

Vermiculite was a common attic insulation product sold from the late 1920s to the early 1990s. The zonolite attic insulation trust zai trust was created to help educate the public about the possible health effects of asbestos containing vermiculite and to provide partial reimbursement for zai removal to qualified claimants. That s good news because most zonolite a type of vermiculite insulation falls into that category. Vermiculite itself has not been shown to be a health problem.

The trust reimburses homeowners for 55 percent of their removal and reinsulation costs with a maximum payout per owner of 4 125. As long as this kind of vermiculite based insulation remains undisturbed behind intact walls or in attic spaces and does not become airborne it should not be a concern. The insulation which was known by the brand name zonolite is most often found in residential attics. It could be purchased locally and could be installed by contractor or homeowner.

It was mined there for more than 50 years ending in 1990. The zonolite attic insulation trust serves property damage claimants by partially reimbursing the cost of professional zonolite removal and asbestos abatement. Unfortunately almost all vermiculite insulation contains asbestos and is unsafe when disturbed. How do i know if there is vermiculite insulation in my home.

Vermiculite loose fill insulation is one of the most common household materials that contains asbestos. It is made from a natural mineral material that is mined from the earth. In order to be eligible for reimbursement a claimant must be able to show.