Vermiculite has been used in insulation products for many homes in Canada and the United States. Much of the vermiculite sold in North America has been mined from a mine (Libby, Montana) where the low percentage of asbestos is naturally found.
The ore that raises concern is that mined from the Libby mine between 1920 and 1990. It was sold in Canada between 1963 and 1984 under the trade name Zonolite® Attic Insulation.
Health effects:
Other materials that may contain asbestos:
The best way to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure is to avoid moving or demolishing asbestos materials in any way. If you are undergoing renovation work, in order to protect occupants and workers, the characterization of materials likely to contain asbestos is an obligation currently included in the Safety Code for the construction work and must be done before undergoing any work likely to emit asbestos dust.