Garden products pose little asbestos risk, EPA says

WASHINGTON - Small amounts of asbestos in some gardening products such as potting soil pose little risk to consumers but may be hazardous to people who regularly work with the raw material, the Environmental Protection Agency said yesterday.

An agency study of 38 vermiculite products from around the country found five that could expose people to asbestos and 17 others with trace amounts. All five products with higher asbestos levels were straight vermiculite, which consumers often mixed with soil for lawn and garden uses.

"These levels were very low and do not pose significant health risks," said Susan Wayland, an EPA administrator.

However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Mine Safety and Health Administration said they were investigating the asbestos exposure of people who regularly work with vermiculite.

Vermiculite, produced from an ore mined worldwide, can be found in products such as insulation, brake pads, cement and fireproof safes. Gardeners have used vermiculite for decades because of its ability to hold water, fertilizer and pesticides.

Asbestos is a natural contaminant of the ore and poses a health risk when it becomes airborne and is inhaled. Asbestos exposure has been linked to cancer and other diseases.

The EPA recommended that consumers use premixed potting soils. People mixing vermiculite with soil should work outdoors or in a well-ventilated area and keep the vermiculite damp.

The agency also said consumers can purchase alternative materials to mix with soil such as peat, sawdust, perlite or bark.

The Vermiculite Association, an international group, agreed with most of the EPA's conclusions but said the EPA is premature in suggesting consumers use vermiculite alternatives.

The five products in the EPA study that caused concern are Earthgro's Best Vermiculite, Hoffman's Vermiculite, Schultz Horticultural Vermiculite and two samples of Ace Horticultural Grade Vermiculite. These products didn't produce airborne asbestos, but significant amounts were detected.