Fertilizer

Fertilizer and other soil amendments help keep our lawns, flower and vegetable gardens green and healthy, enriching the soil and enhancing our outdoor living experience by surrounding us with vibrant, verdant plants and flowers and healthy vegetables and herbs. For many gardening enthusiasts, there is nothing more enjoyable and relaxing than digging in the earth, planting flowers and seeds that will make our landscape a little more beautiful. Without good, fertile soil, many plants and seeds will fail to grow and thrive, and so fertilizers and other soil amendments that make the soil more friable and encourage plant growth are an essential part of any green and thriving garden.

Sadly though, even as you’re enjoying your time in your garden, digging and working your soil to improve its potential for flower, grass, and vegetable production, you may be unknowingly exposing yourself to hidden risks to your own health.

Fertilizer and asbestos

For many years, one of the most popular soil amendments for the home and commercial gardener, as well as anyone wanting to grow beautiful, lush houseplants, has been vermiculite. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral compound which expands when exposed to heat. In the horticultural setting, it provides aeration and drainage necessary for healthy root development, and also has the ability to absorb and retain vast amounts of water, which are released automatically as the surrounding soil dries out. These properties when combined make it an ideal product for use in the home and commercial garden.

Vermiculite is mined as an ore, from numerous veins located throughout the world. The dangers of this otherwise helpful garden additive occur when the ore veins from which the vermiculite is mined also contain asbestos. Because asbestos and vermiculite are both silica-based, they often occur in the same deposits, which means that when the vermiculite is mined, it is also often contaminated with asbestos.

When a gardener purchases vermiculite, it is a remarkably light material. Just emptying out a bag of vermiculite or potting mix on even a windless day can send tiny particles floating through the air, exposing anyone in the area to possible inhalation of the harmful fibers.

Although testing has been done to determine the presence of vermiculite in many fertilizers, consumers should be aware that there is currently no legislation regulating the sale and distribution of soil products containing vermiculite.

Last modified: December 09 2009.