Thursday, September 18, 2008

Not what you want to find

In your attic when you go hunting for a roof leak.

This my friends is Vermiculite, a light fluffy, fire retardant mineral that expands when exposed to heat and like to soak up water. It has a variety of uses, the top ones are as an additive to potting soil and as insulation.

Cool stuff this Vermiculite, quite versatile in it's uses, but depending on the time and place it came from, well it could have a ugly payload that comes with it. If it came from the W.R. Grace mine in Libby Montana, well it may have some Asbestos mixed in with it.


Now leaving it covered and not disturbing it is just fine, you'll never get harmed by it at all. But if you had 5+ inches of rain while you were gone and a roof leak that damaged the ceiling that you need to inspect, well you are going to get exposed to it.

Thanks to this little baby, I'm going to be acquiring a respirator and doing some drywall work in the very near future.

Anyone feel like joining me in kicking up potentially dangerous fibers to suck into your lungs and cling to your clothes?

1 comment:

PiperChristian said...

I'm sure Jason can help you with that, he's got a gas mask to wear! :)