Vermiculite Hazards
It is important to remember that vermiculite is only hazardous if it contains asbestos fibers. Most vermiculite products contain small amounts of asbestos and are generally not a great health risk. However some vermiculite does contain asbestos and should be handled with care.
Individuals exposed to asbestos found in vermiculite for an extended period time are high at risk to health hazards. Illness related to exposure can be asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Early signs of lung cancer can be detected by chest x-ray, but asbestos fibers cannot be detected. Talk to your physician about health tests, such as a chest x-ray and CAT scan.