BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation

Subject: BS: Asbestos-vermiculite- Zonolite Insulation
From: Janie
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 10:32 PM

This is not a new story, but it is news to me, and I thought it might be to others.

Montana mined vermiculite with asbestos   (Note: as with so many AOL articles, this one is written in lurid tabloid style, but further research backs up the facts pretty darn well.)



I'm gonna be checking on the insulation in my attic, and try not to worry about all the potting soil mixes I have played around in for the past 20 years, both purchased and that I mixed myself from purchased ingredients, including vermiculite. I have no way of knowing, now, where the vermiculite I purchased came from.

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 12:40 AM

Janie, "We're sorry, the webpage you are looking for could not be found."

Do you have another link?

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 01:18 AM

Verrmiculite and Asbestos - Malignant Mesothelioma Information

Quote
Specifically, vermiculite from the mines in Libby, Montana, contains tremolite asbestos. The Libby, Montana, mines were closed in 1990 due to health hazards ...

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 01:20 AM

Also Wikipedia 'vermiculite' entry mentions this

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 01:23 AM

Also
http://www.home-air-purifier-expert.com/vermiculite-insulation.html
seems unaffected re access atm.

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: gnu
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 04:20 AM

Insulation.

Best not to touch it if it's "contained".

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: Janie
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 06:12 AM

I can't seem to make a link that works to that first article, Ebbie. It is still one of the featured articles in the scrolling news box on AOL.com, but don't know how long it will be up.

Here is information from the EPA http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/verm.html.

The mines at LIbby provided 70% of the vermiculite sold in the USA between 1919 and 1990. and was in production for approximately 75 years. The Grace Company, owner of the Libby mine, stopped producing the Zonolite insulation in the early 1980's, "for economic reasons." Until then, it was widely used as attic insulation, and is thought to be in something like 35 million homes.

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: maeve
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 08:24 AM

Asbestos, Part 1

Asbestos, Part 2

Asbestos, Part 3

Asbestos, Part 4

http://www.aolnews.com/article/what-to-do-if-you-have-zonolite-insulation/19734890

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 08:32 AM

The Grace Company, owner of the Libby mine, stopped producing the Zonolite insulation in the early 1980's, "for economic reasons."

Sure, it probably was "for economic reasons"--like the cost of litigation and almost-surely the burden of paying damages. The early 80s was, as I recall, just about the time that there began to be heavy and growing publicity about the dangers of asbestos.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 08:39 AM

Vermiculite insulation can certainly be nasty stuff. I'd certainly have a professional inspect any such installation before trying to remove it.

I also worry about the long term consequences of spraying fiberglass insulation into attics, and inhaling their fibers. I'm less worried about fiberglass installed in batts.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: gnu
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 02:31 PM

"... the cost of litigation ..."

Packages containing info and a form to join a class action lawsuit were sent to homes (all close to 50 years old) in my neighbourhood. These packages were delivered by mail. The deadline for claims was at 6PM on the day of delivery. That was last fall. Imagine that.

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: bubblyrat
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 03:56 PM

Over here in England, contractors made a FORTUNE removing asbestos roof tiles (shingles) ,following a big asbestos "scare", but apparently the "white" asbestos used in their manufacture is non-carcinogenic ; it's the "blue asbestos" that's the problem. Nobody ever even mentions asbestos in the UK any more.

Subject: RE: BS: Asbestos tainted Zonolite Insulation
From: gnu
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 04:09 PM

We have it up the ying-yang here but if it's "contained", don't mess with it. Attics, shingle siding... just don't mess with it. Same as lead paint... don't let kids lick it.