[Nhcoll-l] Asbestos-contaminated Vermiculite Ore

[Kathryn Makos]

According to the CDC NIOSH webpage,
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.cdc.gov_niosh_topics_vermiculite_&d=DwICAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=4cXwPrB7nweWOhKgEC1fYL4NijYtq-_Sx6jp6o2wz9Y&s=p1FBOY57gXSIdIlxUynXiCkrzG4GjE3ROlR2UdfQAmw&e= , 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). 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.

 

Kathryn Makos, MPH CIH

Research Collaborator

National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

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