Gezzzzz...of coarse they will find asbestos...just idiots.
[h=2]Tremolite Asbestos[/h]Tremolite is an amphibole. Tremolite fibers have been useful for commercial products because they are strong, flexible, heat-resistant, and can be spun and woven into cloth.
[h=3]Uses of Tremolite[/h]Tremolite was used in a variety of commercial and industrial products because of its ability to insulate and fireproof materials. Some of the more common products that contained tremolite included:
- Paints
- Sealants
- Insulation
- Roofing materials
- Plumbing materials
Tremolite contains calcium, magnesium, silicon, hydrogen and oxygen. The mineral can be brown, gray, white or green and may appear to be transparent.
[h=3]Minerals That Contain Tremolite[/h]Rarely mined on its own, tremolite is often found in large amounts of other minerals such as talc and vermiculite. Researchers found that talc miners and millers are at higher risk for developing lung cancer and other respiratory conditions. When these minerals are used for industrial purposes, exposure to asbestos becomes a concern.
[h=3]Talc[/h]Talc is the softest known mineral on earth and is used for myriad industrial purposes including chalk, paints, rubber, cosmetics, ceramics and pharmaceuticals (for lung function). Most famously, this mineral is used for making talcum powder. Since 1973, U.S. laws require all commercial talcum products to be asbestos-free.
[h=3]Vermiculite[/h]
Vermiculite is a mineral that expands when heated, a process called “exfoliation” or “popping." This process forms a light-weight material used for industrial purposes including insulation, packing materials and soil improvement. Because vermiculite can contain large amounts of tremolite, exposure may increase a person’s risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
This health risk is illustrated by the mining and milling operations in Libby, Montana, one of the United States’ largest sources of vermiculite. The tremolite-contaminated vermiculite at Libby was sold as Zolonite attic insulation, which the EPA estimates could be in millions of American homes. Because more than 70 percent of the vermiculite sold in the United States between 1919 and 1990 came from Libby, professionals recommend treating all vermiculite insulation as if it is contaminated with tremolite.
While some asbestos-containing vermiculite mines have been shut down in recent years, many vermiculite products that contain asbestos are still in use today.
Over the last century, vermiculite has been widely mined and processed worldwide for various construction, industrial and horticultural applications, as it is a superior insulator and filler material that is both lightweight and inexpensive.
[h=4]Vermiculite compounds have been used for the following applications:[/h]
- Fertilizer carrier
- Potting soil additive
- Soil conditioner
- Attic insulation (loose-fill, commonly sold under the product name Zonolite)
- Acoustic finishes
- Spray-on insulation
- Concrete mixes for swimming pools
- Stucco
- Alternative to gypsum wallboard
- Plasterboard
- Packaging material (similar to styrofoam peanuts)
- Fireproofing material
- Whitewashes
