ASBESTOS
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. EPA and CPSC have banned several asbestos products. Today, asbestos is most commonly found in older homes, in pipe and furnace insulation materials, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials, and floor tiles.
The Problem?
Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding or other remodeling activities. Improper attempts to remove these materials can release asbestos fibers into the air in homes, increasing asbestos levels and endangering people living in those homes.
The most dangerous asbestos fibers are too small to be visible. After they are inhaled, they can remain and accumulate in the lungs. Asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the chest and abdominal linings), and asbestosis (irreversible lung scarring that can be fatal). Symptoms of these diseases do not show up until many years after exposure began.
For more information, check EPA's Sources of Indoor Air Pollution - Asbestos
ZONOLITE
Zonolite is the trademarked name for a product made from the mineral vermiculite. Vermiculite was called the miracle mineral, and was a very popular product from the 50's to the late 70's, used for fireproofing and home insulation. U.S.-based W.R. Grace produced Zonolite, a popular insulating material used in thousands of Canadian homes.
The Problem? >>Deadly Dust : CBC news-story