Asbestos in Vermiculite Plaster
What is vermiculite plaster?
Fireproof vermiculite is a mineral with thin, flat layered sheets similar to mica. When a piece of vermiculite is heated, the moisture trapped between its many layers evaporates and expands, “popping” the piece into a lightweight and absorbent material many times its original size. Vermiculite can be added to plaster to create an industrial-grade material with excellent insulating and fireproofing properties.
While most vermiculite plaster today is non-toxic, there is a real risk of asbestos exposure from vermiculite plaster made or applied prior to 1990. Vermiculite on its own is a harmless mineral. But if it but can in some instances be contaminated by asbestos. Sadly, this is exactly what happened in Libby, Montana. Vermiculite from the W.R. Grace-owned Zonolite mine was contaminated by tremolite asbestos, a fact that Grace knew about but hid from its workers and the public. It is estimated that Grace produced about 80 percent of the world’s vermiculite. Hundreds have died from asbestos related diseases in Libby, and more become sick with mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases every year.
Because of the Libby disaster, in 2000 the EPA completed a study and found that some vermiculite compounds do contain asbestos, but the agency concluded that the risk to consumers is minimal. All vermiculite is now tested thoroughly for asbestos contamination.
Asbestos exposure from products such as vermiculite plaster shows that asbestos-related diseases are a real risk for anyone who may have worked with vermiculite plaster or any other asbestos-containing material.
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