About your health

Is my health at risk from previous
exposures to the asbestos in the
insulation?
If you removed or disturbed the insulation, it is
possible that you inhaled some asbestos fibers.
Also the disturbance may have resulted in the
fibers being deposited into other areas of the home.
Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of
developing lung disease. That risk is made worse
by smoking. In general, the greater the exposure to
asbestos, the greater the chance of developing
harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may
take several years to develop following exposure.
If you are concerned about possible exposure,
consult a physician who specializes in lung
diseases (pulmonologist).
Where can I get information on
testing or removal of the insulation?
EPA and ATSDR strongly recommend using a
trained and certified professional to conduct
removal work. Removing the insulation yourself
could potentially spread asbestos fibers throughout
your home, putting you and your family at risk of
inhaling these fibers.
For certified asbestos removal professionals in your
area, refer to your local Yellow Pages. Your State
Environmental Agency can confirm that the
company's credentials are current.
You can find your State Agency at:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/whereyoulive.htm
Currently, there are specific technical issues
involving vermiculite sampling that can complicate
testing for the presence of asbestos fibers and
interpreting the risk from exposure. EPA and
ATSDR are not recommending at this time that
homeowners have vermiculite attic insulation tested
for asbestos. As testing techniques are refined,
EPA and ATSDR will provide information to the
public on the benefits of testing that produce more
definitive and accurate test results.
What if I have work-related exposure
to vermiculite?
Workers who have had significant past exposure,
or have significant ongoing exposure to asbestos,
to vermiculite from Libby, or to other asbestoscontaminated
materials should consider getting a
medical exam from a physician who knows
about diseases caused by asbestos. For more
information and to obtain a fact sheet concerning
occupational exposure to vermiculite, contact the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) at: 1-800-35-NIOSH, or
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html