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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;background:white'>According to the CDC NIOSH webpage, <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.cdc.gov_niosh_topics_vermiculite_&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=4cXwPrB7nweWOhKgEC1fYL4NijYtq-_Sx6jp6o2wz9Y&s=p1FBOY57gXSIdIlxUynXiCkrzG4GjE3ROlR2UdfQAmw&e=">https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/vermiculite/</a> , the vermiculite ore mined near Libby, Montana, which accounted for more than half the worldwide production of vermiculite from 1925 to 1990, was contaminated with asbestos (primarily amphibole).</span> Libby Montana vermiculite miners and their community had been studied, with asbestos-related illnesses reported. A pdf included in this webpage indicates that there is no clear evidence that dust from pure vermiculite ore itself may pose health hazards, except for fine dust inhalation. However, even though the Libby mine closed in 1990, the risk of using any vermiculite product is still high depending on where the current products were mined and processed, and its use in collection care apparently unnecessary considering the many safer packing options that have been posted.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kathryn Makos, MPH CIH<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Research Collaborator<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>