16 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY,JUNE 4,2003
HEALTH
Rare insulation could pose hazard
EPA launches program to increase awareness of asbestos dangers
By Brandon Baker
bbaker@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
Homeowners and tenants in Lawrence should be aware of the possible threat of asbestos exposure from insulation.
The Environmental Protection Agency launched a program in May to increase public awareness of the possible dangers of vermiculite attic insulation.
According to the EPA, vermiculite attic insulation could contain small traces of asbestos.
Lung cancer is a side effect of asbestos inhalation.
"People who have homes with vermiculite attic insulation should become informed, not alarmed," said Stephen L. Johnson, the EPA's assistant administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances.
The EPA released the following recommendations to decrease the risk of exposure to asbestos in vermiculite insulation:
Do not disturb vermiculite attic insulation. Disturbance of fibers could release asbestos into the air.
Limit the number of trips and activity in attic areas where vermiculite insulation is present. Do not store boxes and other items in attics if retrieving them would disturb insulation.
Children should not play in attics with open exposure to vermiculite.
Do not move or remove vermiculite insulation. If removal is necessary call a certified professional to safely remove the insulation.
Gary Marsh, owner of Marsh Insulation Service, 1706 E.800 Road, said vermiculite is not very common but may be in older homes. Marsh warned that even fiberbased insulations can be dangerous.
"The only safe insulation is cellulose," he said. "It is made with 100 percent boric acid, which is one-sixth as dangerous as ordinary table salt."
During renovations of the sixth floor of Dyche Hall, workers discovered vermiculite insulation in the walls.
Marsh said he has rarely run into vermiculite but has insulated over it.
Construction workers contacted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and had the vermiculite tested, but the tests came back negative, said Johnell Fendley. Asbestos and Lead program manager at the University.
According to the EPA, there are few dependable techniques to test vermiculite insulation for asbestos. Home testing is impractical, and it is safest to assume the insulation could contain asbestos.
"It is easier to discover than to deal with vermiculite," Marsh said.
Vermiculite is a pour-in product composed of glittery granular pebbles. Vermiculite can be gold, silver and pink in color but may turn black with dust collection in older homes.
Landlords must comply with the requirement of all applicable building and housing codes affecting health and safety, according to the Kansas Landlord Tenant Act.
- Edited by Richard Gintowt
Cuenca
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
that, "Crow accepted the facts that I alleged, then colored all those facts in the light most favorable to the defense."
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver will handle Cuenca's appeal.
Cuenca was hired at the University August 16, 1994, as an assistant professor of visual communications. He was employed as a tenure-track professor and was expected to teach two to three courses a semester.
Throughout the next few years, Cuenca received performance evaluations ranging from "good" to "poor to adequate."
In Dec. 1999, the school's committee on promotion and tenure notified Cuenca that they had "voted overwhelmingly to deny" his tenure.
During the following spring semester, Cuenca missed 31 percent of his classes in one course and 37.5 percent of his classes in another course.
On March 26, 2000, the University Committee on Promotion and Tenure notified Cuenca by letter that the 2000- 2001 school year would be his last as a journalism professor.
— Edited by Richard Gintowt