My attic has vermiculite insulation in it. Am I at risk? Should I take it out?

If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, you should assume the material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from exposure to asbestos. EPA recommends that vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed. Airborne asbestos fibers present a health risk through inhalation, so the first step is to not disturb the material, which could release fibers into the air. The degree of health risk depends on how much and how often this occurred. If you choose to remove the vermiculite insulation, this work should be done by a trained and accredited asbestos abatement contractor that is separate and independent from the company that performed the assessment of the vermiculite insulation to avoid any conflict of interest.

For more information to commonly asked asbestos questions go to EPA’s Frequently Asked Asbestos Questions.