Mesothelioma - The Zonolite Product Problem : The asbestos-Mesothelioma link is one that has been discussed over and over. The clear scientific consensus is asbestos exposure can lead to Mesothelioma in certain circumstances. Zonolite is one example of how indirect exposure can occur.
Asbestos has developed a certain "go to" factor in the media. When things are slow, you can always do a piece on asbestos and how it is leading to horrific health problems for someone. The vast majority of these productions involve workers who were exposed in the workplace be it an oil refinery, shipyard, factory or wherever. While these cases definitely exist and are very serious, you can be exposed in much less dramatic circumstances. Zonolite is a perfect example.
What is Zonolite? It is the brand name under which most Vermiculite was sold. Vermiculite was used for a host of purposes, but mostly as insulation in homes and buildings. The product was sold as a "do it yourself" form of insulation by W.R. Grace. The idea was that homeowners could buy the product and then add it to their pre-existing insulation for the purpose of creating a better house envelope that would reduce energy bills.
This may seem somewhat superfluous, but it is not. From 1919 to the 1990s, the vast majority of Vermiculite was mined outside of Libby, Montana. Yes, the same area of mines where asbestos was found naturally. You can probably guess where this is headed. Studies of the Vermiculite mined outside of Libby found the material was infused with asbestos from the mines. W.R. Grace argued it was barely in the product, but quickly discontinued it.
Unfortunately, Zonolite was a huge commercial success. The federal government has estimated it was used in over 30 million homes. It remains in most of these homes undiscovered because the "do it yourself" nature of the product means there are few records showing where it was used.
If you are considering doing some home improvement work, you need to keep an eye out for Zonolite. It tends to be brown and looks like a loose gravel. The most common use was between the joists that separated the attic from the ceiling in rooms. It could, however, be in the walls as well. If found, do not try to remove it yourself. The dust can be deadly and lead to problems such as asbestosis, lung cancer and Mesothelioma.
Asbestos is often touted as a workplace problem. It is, but it is also found in plenty of products in the home, buildings and even schools. If you have any suspicion whatsoever that Zonolite or another asbestos bearing product was used in your home, contact an asbestos removal specialist.
