Asbestos/Cancer in Vermiculite

[THE WHISPERER]

I wanted to continue this from another thread because I feel like I was hijacking someone elses thread, and because I wasn't sure how many people might have been skipping over the thread not wanting to answer the pole. The person that started the pole stated that they would not use vermiculite. I asked why. Someone else replied that it has Asbestos and cancer in it. This got me concerned beings that I use vermiculite so I got on the internet and started searching. In my search all I came up with was, the cancers come from Asbestos and the only Vermiculite containing Asbestos came from the Libby Mine in Libby Montana. That mine was closed down 19 years ago. The only thing I found thats still out there with Vermiculite containing Asbestos is insulation. The Vermiculite I buy says its Asbestos Free and one other person post after me stating that its O.K. just not to breath the dust. which is what I read also. I couldn't get a response from the person stating they would not use Vermiculite nor the person stating that it was cancerous as to where they got their info so that I could research this further. So if anyone has info on this at all PLEASE help me out here so we can all know if we are safe using this product. Thanks

 

[ajveachster]

I am not the one who did the original post, but here is a resource for you. You can look them up on the web. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. They have some information on their site in regards to asbestos in vermiculite. Pretty much they say you are probably safe, but if you are concerned at all then use an alternative product.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Rick, you have done your homework, and are absolutely correct! That mine was closed down nearly 20 years agom and since then our government has been VERY concerned with any asbestos content in our garden-grade vermiculite. Since vermiculite and asbestos are found in geologically similar areas, we may never be certain that the vermiculite we use today is 100% asbestos free. But, I can guarantee that if there is ANY asbestos in the vermiculite we get today, the amount is so minute that is would pose no health risks.

 

[Albey]

Rick, you answered all of your questions with the information you posted. There is no Asbestos in Vermiculite. Since Asbestos was the Cancer causing ingredient it is totally safe. Because of the incident at the Libby Mines though Home Depot and most of the big Department Store Garden Centers removed it from their shelves just to avoid any possible lawsuits in case Asbestos showed up in another mine somewhere else. Vermiculite is now back in all of the stores. By the way the Mines the produce Vermiculite here in the US are tested by the actual producers and the Government constantly to avoid another problem. I still try not to breathe the dust though. Any kind of dust like that can cause irritation in the sinus and the lungs with out having any cancer causing ingredients.

 

[THE WHISPERER]

Thanks Ajveachster, Marcia, and Albey. Getting possitive feedback makes me feel safer. Not getting any negative feedback helps too.:main_thumbsup:

 

[GroovyGeckos.com]

It only takes one asbestos fiber(and many years) to kill a person, but we breath them every single day, as it is. Nothing we can do to avoid it.

I would not be too sure that anything saying it is asbestos free, actually is. It really only needs to be less than one percent(by law) to be considered non-asbestos. My "asbestos professional" training tells me both:main_rolleyes:, that any amount of it can cause you harm, AND that there are safe levels of exposure. So what does that tell ya? Not much.

Just an example of asbestos in building materials: 9 X 9 floor tiles were discontinued in the US, and replaced by 12 X 12 tiles. The reason for this was because they stopped using asbestos in the tiles, and wanted to be able to tell the difference, just by looking at them. Well we have had tests come back on 12 X 12 floor tiles, that actually had a larger amount of asbestos in them, then the old 9 X 9 tiles we would normally remove. Unfortunately they still use asbestos in other countries, and it has made it`s way into the now "clean" 12 X 12 floor tile stock.

 

[janie31]

I just wanted to say ia ctually found this thread really informative!!!!

I done some asbestos training, all it acheieved was making all those who attend paranoid we were going to die from asbestosis!!! Lol

Can i ask though, do you use vermiculite in your leo's tanks? I read you use it in crickets tanks for them to lay eggs into, but wasnt sure if that is what you mean?

Thanks

 

[THE WHISPERER]

Can i ask though, do you use vermiculite in your leo's tanks? I read you use it in crickets tanks for them to lay eggs into, but wasnt sure if that is what you mean?

Thanks

I Incubate my loepard gecko eggs in it.

 

[janie31]

aaaahhhHH!!!

see, I've learnt something new today, well lots of new things thanks to everyone here being so great.