Is vermiculite insulation in a BC attic dangerous, and should it come out?

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Health Canada says to assume vermiculite insulation from before 1990 may hold asbestos; left sealed and undisturbed it poses very little risk, so have it tested before any work that would disturb it. Vermiculite is a light, pebble-like mineral once poured loose into attics and wall cavities as insulation. Much of it came from one mine whose ore held asbestos, so it is an asbestos question: harmless while sealed away, a hazard once disturbed. Look up the address or PID on PlaceDossier to see the record for that lot. Where it came from: Vermiculite ore from the Libby Mine in Montana, mined from the 1920s to 1990, may contain asbestos; the mine supplied most of the world's vermiculite insulation, mostly sold as Zonolite. It wasn't widely used after the mid-1980s and hadn't been sold in Canada for more than 10 years by 2004 (Health Canada advisory RA-1100027). Assume it may hold asbestos: Not all vermiculite insulation made before 1990 contains asbestos, but Health Canada advises assuming that it may, unless there is evidence to the contrary. WorkSafeBC says you can't tell whether a material holds asbestos just by looking; a sample sent to a lab tells. Leaving it alone: Health Canada found no evidence of a risk to health while the insulation stays sealed behind wallboards and floorboards, isolated in an attic or otherwise kept from the inside of the house, and says the best way to lower the risk is not to disturb it in any way. Why it matters: Asbestos is a risk only when its fibres are in the air people breathe; inhaled, they can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer, usually after frequent and prolonged exposure and often decades later (Health Canada advisory RA-1100027). Vermiculite sold today for potting plants isn't a known risk when used as directed. Hired renovation or demolition: Before work begins on renovating or demolishing a building, every employer responsible for the work, and the owner, must have a qualified person inspect it and identify hazardous materials, asbestos among them (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation s. 20.112 (1) to (3)). Removal is asbestos abatement: a licensed contractor, certified workers and a notice of project to WorkSafeBC (see asbestos). Selling and buying: Whether a seller must disclose vermiculite depends on what they know and whether it is a material latent defect, as the seller disclosure page explains; no rule we've read names vermiculite. Insurers and lenders may ask about it: ask them before subjects come off (our reading). What it means for a buyer: Vermiculite in the attic is mostly a question for the renovations you plan: an attic left closed may never need work, but new wiring, pot lights, a roof or more insulation can disturb it. Price a test, the survey and any removal into those plans.

Is vermiculite insulation in a BC attic dangerous, and should it come out?

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