Vermiculite

Principle Routes of Exposure

Skin Contact Skin Absorption Eye Contact Inhalation Ingestion Emergency Overview Product is tan flakes, granules or powder with no odor. Dusts may cause irritation of eyes, skin, mucous membranes and respiratory tract. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment. Keep individuals not involved in the cleanup out of the area. Pick up released product with appropriate implements and return to original container if reusable. If not reusable, place in appropriate containers for disposal. Although the product itself is non-hazardous, material collected during clean up operations may be contaminated and should be treated as hazardous unless specific testing, including TCLP, shows the collected material to be non-hazardous. Product is quite inert and is not expected to present an environmental hazard. WHMIS Symbols Not Regulated

Potential health effects

No specific long term health effects have been identified for asbestos and silica free vermiculite. As is true of all nuisance or inert particulates, inhalation of high concentrations of vermiculite dusts and/or particulates over prolonged periods of time may cause a benign pneumoconiosis. Prolonged exposure to respirable crystalline silica (quartz) may cause a progressive, disabling lung disorder (silicosis). Symptoms may include, cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, decrease in pulmonary function, and recurring non-specific pulmonary illness. The onset of symptoms, except in cases of massive exposures, is usually gradual over a period of several years and is accompanied by changes in the x-ray picture of lungs. Crystalline silica has been listed a potential human carcinogen (2A) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and as a substance that can be reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in humans by the National Toxicology program. Pre-existing lung and skin conditions may possibly be aggravated by exposure to the components of the product.