Asbestos and Vermiculite: Hazards |
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It is important to remember that vermiculite is only hazardous if it contains asbestos fibers and these fibers are disturbed enough to become airborne. Asbestos must enter the body to pose a risk. Most vermiculite products contain small amounts of asbestos, but are generally not a great health risk because the amounts are small. However some vermiculite does contain enough asbestos that it should be handled with care.
Individuals exposed to asbestos found in vermiculite for an extended period time are high at risk to health hazards. The longer a person is exposed to a hazard the more likely it will affect the person exposed. Illnesses related to exposure can be asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Early signs of lung cancer can be detected by chest x-ray. The presence of asbestos fibers in the body can be detected only by invasive procedures such as a biopsy.
