CBC W-FIVE - Sat. Apr. 16, 2005 - 7pm ET

W-FIVE Investigates a Deadly Insulation that is in Hundreds of Thousands of Canadian Homes

W-FIVE investigates an insulation product that may be in hundreds of thousands of Canadian homes - exposing homeowners to deadly asbestos fibres.

Zonolite-brand vermiculite insulation was widely used until the 1980s, often installed by do-it-yourselfers. Described as "no fuss, no muss" and so simple even a child could install it, Zonolite was also the choice of federal energy-saving programs. Now, faced with a deadly menace in attics and walls, W-FIVE exposes the health hazards and asks why more is not being done to help affected homeowners remove this hazard.

Click here to view the Question and Answer PDF from the CBC News The National episode "Deadly Dust" which aired Feb 7, 2003 by Reporter Frédéric Zalac.

Related Links

• CBC National September 2004 - feature "Deadly Dust" - Zonolite Vermiculite Insulation Containing Asbestos includes Q&A, updated March 2005.
• Quebec Government Toxicology Information on Zonolite (in French)
• Libby Issues and Answers site
• Asbestos Network
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Asbestos Vermiculte pages
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Vermiculite Insulation Fact Sheet