EPA's analysis indicates that these pre-mixed products pose little to no risk of exposure. Consumers may also want to purchase soil-supplementing materials other than vermiculite, such as peat, sawdust, perlite or bark although EPA does not endorse the use of any particular product. This investigation was conducted in two phases. Seventeen of the 38 products were found to have trace amounts of asbestos. Vermiculite can often contain a range of other minerals including, in some cases, low levels of asbestos.
Asbestos can pose a risk if fibers become airborne and are inhaled into the lungs.
Breathing high levels of these fibers, which are so small they float in the air unseen, can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity, and asbestosis, a condition in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue. EPA's report raises questions about the potential risk to workers who may use vermiculite products on a regular basis and face significantly greater exposures. EPA has shared the results of this report with Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the Mining Safety Health Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. EPA is also developing a set of standard scientific protocols for sampling in-place vermiculite insulation in the attics and walls of people's homes to help assess the potential health risks.