Me vs. The Attic: Zonolite, the EPA and Asbestos
December 19th, 2003In our recent remodeling project that I’m starting to refer to as “Project Colonoscopy”, it was determined that in order to provide true beauty in the new kitchen, we’d have to run new wires to the circuit breaker (microwave circuit; dishwasher/disposer circuit) and drill holes in the ceiling for halogen lights. I am not averse to doing either, but I am highly averse to scary, dark and dusty places that hold vast secrets of health problems.
When I first opened the crawl space access hole and peeked up into the attic with my flashlight, I saw a lunar scene of craggy surfaces and limited oxygen. I noticed this flaky, reflective particulate that was covered by the traditional fiberglass insulation. The reflective particulate didn’t look like something that in any way could be helpful to anything. I immediately took cover with Google and began to research this mystery substance.
It’s called, in it’s native form, vermiculite. It’s sold as a gardening aid and, more importantly, was used as a DIY attic insulation solution by millions of homeowners in the U.S. and Canada. Despite the efforts of manufacturers to state the safety of vermiculite, for years, a mine in Montana was the source of vermiculite for a company that sold bags of vermiculite marketed under the name Zonolite. The mine wasn’t closed until 1990. It gets uglier. The EPA, deciding that something must be done, released, in May 2003 a mini-brochure (link goes to page where one could, if one were so inclined, download helpful mini-brochure in the PDF).
All of the literature and helpful websites said, basically, don’t disturb the stuff, and if you do, you are screwed. Ok. Fine. Except that in order to run wires and install lights, I had to disturb the stuff. I took great care in wearing protective everything, including an N100-rated respirator (thanks OSHA) and limited my exposure times.
I don’t know if the product in the attic is, in fact, asbestos-laden, but I don’t want anything harming me or my family. For those of you freaking out because my wife is pregnant, she also wore the exact same type of respirator when anything involving fumes or dust was being performed. We left the house while the floors were refinished, so that the fumes wouldn’t affect her or our baby.
The bigger issue is one that appears to be plaguing the EPA; how to eliminate this huge health threat from the millions of people without causing mass hysteria. Another, less important EPA problem seems to be the recent addition of 1.75 L bottles of Maker’s Mark in Utah Liquor stores. o
vermiculite is great as a growing compound.
i once scraped the popcorn off my gf’s ceilings - without the use of water.
like i know how to do any of this homeowner crap.
the dust that filled that house kept me from breathing for days. turned out we were asbestos free, but still.
i’m glad you are doing things the right way.
I love the title- it is so Britney 2003
Love the site- Love the new floors- Merry Christmas…
We had our first vermiculite encounter today. I too, took cover with google. As we were installing a simpe cable box into the wall, mounds of this “stuff” poured out the small hole that had been cut. At the time we were elated in knowing that our old house did have insulation!! A short time later in the the attic I found multiple bags with “Zonolite Vemiculite” on the front. Great. This “character” thing these old houses are to possess is starting to be a little over-rated. As I read on one website, it’s known as “deadly dust”.
Now what? am I really suppose to believe it’s completely safe for my husband and I, and our two little girls to live here?
I have a feeling google and I are going to have a late night.
Check the Artiicle in the Jan. 2004 issue of “Builder” magazine for the NAHB’s spin on this issue. http://www.builderonline.com/magazines - The website is not yet updated for the Jan. issue, but should be shortly.
You took the appropriate precaution by wearing the respirator.
Vermiculite is ored from sources across the world, the mine in Libby was found to have some minerals which have been found to contain asbestos fibers. Keep in mind that the vermiculite in your attic 1) may or may not have come from the source in Libby 2) the vermiculiite in your attic may or may not also contain the minerals which have been found to be asbestos containing (i.e., the asbesos mineral strains were probably located only in certain portions of the mine…minerals tend to run in veins along old fault lines, compression zones etc.) When asbestos is disturbed the potential exists for the fibers to be released in the air. The airborne fibgers have the potential to attach to your lungs and maybe someday causing certain lung ailments. the key is potential. Somtimes it does sometimes it doesn’t.
Keep in mind that the relation of exposure to certain chemicals (i.e., benzene in paint thinner, asbestos insulation) and the resulting affect to your health is dose response dependant. A person who has one minor exposure to the mineral is at less of a risk (albeit still a risk) then one who say, worked in the mine in Libby.