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More Information

Photograph of chopped fiberglass insulation Fiberglass Hazards in Indoor Air, Dust, HVAC ducts, and Building Insulation
     

  • How to recognize fiberglass insulation materials in buildings
    • What does fiberglass building insulation look like & what are the colors of different brands of fiberglass insulation?
    • Where else do we find fiberglass in buildings besides floor, wall and attic insulation?
    • What are the Problems with Identifying Fiberglass Hazards in buildings?
    • Microscopic identification of fiberglass insulation fragments, Health concerns of fiberglass exposure, Mold hazards in fiberglass insulation, Fiberglass exposure hazard reference list, Fiberglass insulation demolition mess, itching, dust persistence
    • Potential hazards from dust created by cutting fiberglass reinforced plastic pane
  • Questions & Answers about fiberglass dust, particle, & mold hazards in buildings
  • References

Click to Show or Hide Related Topics

  • AIR FILTERS, FIBERGLASS PARTICLES
  • CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION
  • CRAWLSPACE MOLD ADVICE
  • DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS
  • DUST, HVAC CONTAMINATION STUDY
  • DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE
  • FIBERGLASS DETECTION in BUILDING AIR & DUST
  • FIBERGLASS DUCT, RIGID CONSTRUCTION
  • FIBERGLASS ENVIRO-SCARE
  • FIBERGLASS FRAGMENT HAZARDS in AIR or DUST
  • FIBERGLASS HAZARDS - home
  • FIBERGLASS HVAC DUCTS
  • FIBERGLASS INSULATION EXPOSURE LIMITS
  • FIBERGLASS INSULATION IDENTIFICATION
  • FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD
  • FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST
  • HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND
  • HOUSE DUST ANALYSIS
  • INSPECTION of INSULATION for MOLD
  • INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE - home
  • LAB IDENTIFICATION OF FIBERGLASS
  • MOLD by MICROSCOPE
  • MORGELLONS SYNDROME
  • PARTICLE SIZES & IAQ
  • TEST CHOICES for MOLD in FIBERGLASS
  • TEST PROCEDURE for MOLD in FIBERGLASS
  • VACUUM TEST of EXPOSED INSULATION
  • Where to Find an Asbestos Testing Laboratory
  • WHEN to TEST INSULATION for MOLD
  • WHY DOES MOLD GROW in INSULATION?
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Fiberglass hazards in buildings: this document provides information about how to identify fiberglass insulation in buildings and fiberglass hazards and fiberglass insulation contamination issues in residential and light-commercial buildings. The fiberglass research literature is replete with studies indicating that there are no health hazards associated with airborne fiberglass particles, and with other studies reaching quite the opposite conclusion. We recommend that readers examine carefully the methodology used in such studies, the expertise of the researchers, and the sources financing of such work.

Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.

How to Identify or Recognize Fiberglass Insulation in buildings

Photo of fiberglass flex duct air conditioning ductworkAlso see DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS and see Insulation Products MSDS and Fiberglass Insulation Exposure Limits.

Based on literature review as well as both field and laboratory experience, it is reasonable to claim that large particles of fiberglass are far more likely to be a respiratory or skin irritant than a carcinogen or other more serious health hazard.

However some of our field and lab inspections detect very small, even sub-micron sized particles which are traced to building insulation.

These much smaller particles may indeed be a health hazard, and may be entirely omitted or simply missed by some laboratories charged with reporting on the level of fiberglass in building air or dust.

This article explains the recognition of types of fiberglass insulation in buildings, other fiberglass particle sources, and some possible health concerns that involve these materials.

photo of yellow fiberglass building insulation photo of pink fiberglass building insulation

photo of green fiberglass building insulation photo of white fiberglass building insulation

What does fiberglass building insulation look like & what are the colors of different brands of fiberglass insulation?

Fiberglass building insulation is commonly installed in batts or chopped forms and may be yellow, pink, green, or white in color as is shown in these four photographs.

While this material is not and should not be confused with asbestos nor with the well-studied health hazards associated with exposure to asbestos fibers or dust, our separate article on Airborne Fiberglass Building Insulation Hazards and HVAC duct work insulation hazards contains additional discussion about possible air quality and health concerns which may be associated with exposure to fiberglass dust.

Where else do we find fiberglass in buildings besides floor, wall and attic insulation?

Fiberglass duct insulation material appears in several forms in heating and air conditioning systems in both ducts and air handlers themselves.

Photo of fiberglass flex duct air conditioning ductwork

The most common uses of fiberglass insulating material in HVAC systems includes the cases listed below.

The annotated duct system photographs shown in the article cited below will permit any careful observer to identify the most common types of fiberglass HVAC duct materials.

We provide these (C)-protected photographs of fiberglass insulated ducts and HVAC components to aid in recognition of these materials.

 

 

Our detailed article on how to recognize fiberglass duct insulation and its characteristics and hazards can be read in its entirety at Recognizing Fiberglass Duct Insulation.

What are the Problems with Identifying Fiberglass Hazards in buildings?

photo of resin binder on fiberglass insulation fragments

Special challenges face consumers requesting lab services for identification of fiberglass fragments in air, dust, or material samples are easily identified in the forensic laboratory using light and polarized light microscopy and common slide preparation techniques.

Our photograph (left) shows a typical fiberglass insulation fiber with droplets of resin binder attached. It's easy to identify large fiberglass fibers in transmitted-light microscopy.

But identification of very small fiberglass fragments in a building dust or air sample can be difficult to detect unless the microscopist is trained and looking for that material, and special methods such as use of phase contrast may be needed.


Certainteed blown in fiberglass (C) Daniel Friedman

Binder Resins in Fiberglass Insulation Help Trace Source

Observing the color of a fiberglass bonding resin can help trace particular fiberglass in a building air or dust sample back to its source.

Other fiberglass products, such as this Certainteed un bonded blowing wool (fiberglass) lack a characteristic resin. Interestingly in this client-provided sample of nearly-new blown-in fiberglass insulation we found very few small fiber fragments. Dust tested from that home was also low in fiberglass fragments.

The common errors which result in failing to detect small fiberglass particles in building air and dust are discussed in detail at Lab Identification of Fiberglass

In that article we also discuss techniques which permit the forensic microscopy lab to identify the source or reservoir of particular fiberglass fragments in a building, sorting out among many possible fiber sources to pinpoint the particular problem such as damaged building insulation, damaged HVAC duct work, or other particle sources.

We also discuss how to distinguish among types of insulating and other fibers, comparing various types of fiberglass insulation, mineral wool insulation, asbestos insulation, and other fibers.

Frequent presence of fiberglass fragments in air and some dust samples, suggests that an HVAC duct system or exposed fiberglass insulation in the building may be contributing unwanted and potentially unsafe levels of these fibers. This discussion can be read in its entirety at Fiberglass Detection in Building Air.

Also see Insulation Products MSDS and Fiberglass Insulation Exposure Limits.


Photograph of mold spores of Aspergillus sp. found in crawl space fiberglass insulation.

Moldy fiberglass insulation

We have also detected high levels of problematic mold in fiberglass building insulation where other mold reservoirs were either not present or had been previously removed.

This article can be read in its entirety at Mold in Fiberglass Insulation

...


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fiberglass particle contamination, cleanup, dust, itching, testing

Question: Continued Itching after Fiberglass Demolition

I have a question regarding fiberglass insulation. I pest control worker, who is trying to rid us of rats in the attic, removed the fiberglass insulation from the attic space but dragged the insulation through the house. Now, we are constantly itching. Is is due to fiberglass particles in the air? What can we do? We've vacuumed a lot but it's not helping. Help! Thank you for your time, M & M.

Reply: clean up, wash, laundry clothing, check with your doctor, consider dust testing

A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem such as incomplete cleaning, or some other problem source yet unnoticed, including a biological hazard associated with the rodents themselves.

That said, here are some things to consider about itching after messing with fiberglass insulation:

Dragging fiberglass refuse through a building causes dust contamination

Dragging fiberglass through a building is likely to have left a fair amount of broken fiberglass fragments on floors and through air transport, as settled dust on surfaces. If you haven't done so you may want to clean the rooms through which insulation was dragged using damp wiping and then HEPA vacuuming of all surfaces, especially floors, carpets and any nearby furniture, shelving, etc.

Continued skin irritation after handling fiberglass insulation

It can take two or in a few cases even three trips through the washing machine to remove enough fine insulation fragments from clothing that it would not any longer be irritating to your skin

In my experience, working with insulation, especially during demolition when lots of material is broken up and airborne, the skin itching can last for a day or two after the work has been completed. Taking a couple of showers, washing fully, may remove the dust, debris, and fiber fragments, or nearly all of them, from your person, but the skin may have become irritated, taking a bit longer to recover.

Check with your doctor if skin irritation continues past 1-3 days.

If itching continues after you've cleaned yourself, clothing, and any dust left in the building (use a HEPA vacuum when vacuuming up fine dust), then I suggest checking with your doctor or a dermatologist.

Consider dust sampling if you are not sure the building cleaning was adequate

If you have reason to suspect that there remains irritating dust and an irritating dust source in the building, I'd consider collecting one or two tape samples of settled dust from a horizontal surface in an area where you spend the most time and in an area where you think the dust is worst.

Have those samples analyzed to identify the dominant particles - as that may be diagnostic. Cost per sample for such analysis, using microscopy, should be in the $50. ballpark per sample. You shouldn't need many samples, perhaps two or at most two plus a control. A settled dust collection procedure for collecting a dust sample that should be just fine is found at MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS. Please do not send us your sample. I want to avoid even the appearance of any conflict of interest.

Question: device for proving clothing is contaminated with fiberglass

I wish there was a device for seeing & proving clothing is contaminated with fibreglass. - 8/7/11

Reply:

Stu,

Because sampling and microscopic examination are needed, I don't foresee an economical, free, or cheap stand-alone "device" specifically to test clothing for fiberglass contamination.

But testing clothing for fiberglass is easy, something I've done for a number of insurance claims and other cases: we use a vacuum cassette and pump to sample the fabrics, followed by a microscopic examination of the sample for dominant particle types. Testing fabrics, clothing, drapes, carpets, upholstery for high levels of fiberglass particles and for small (irritating) fiberglass fragments is technically easy using a combination of vacuum sampling cassette and forensic microscopy. But in my OPINION such testing is not justified without good reason.

However, for most cases, because clothing can usually be laundered or dry cleaned, it makes equal or even more sense to spend your money on cleaning the clothes rather than testing them. Even in cases of high levels of fiberglass exposure, double laundering or dry cleaning has in my experience proven quite effective. I've examined cotton denim fabric (blue jeans) after working on installing fiberglass building insulation in a dusty environment, and after the clothes were laundered twice. The remaining fiberglass particles were in the incidental range after cleaning.

Question: Is there any way that I can tell if the apartment is safe?

Just renting an apartment, but may want to raise kids in it. Is there any way that I can tell if the apartment is safe? - Jon 11/28/11

PS- See comment below - Is in what would be the attic, floorboards don't have any sealant between them so is why I'm a bit worried.

Reply:

Jon,

You could hire a professional home inspector to examine your home, asking him/her to concentrate on safety issues and concerns. I wouldn't start my worry list with fiberglass when there may be trip and fall hazards etc. at a building. Start with fixing items of highest risk.

Question: a turbine vent on the roof has me worried that it's contaminating my sleeping area

Hi! I installed one of those rotating air vents which suck the air out of the roof cavity into the roof space some time ago. The composition of the roof is "wooden coverings > insulation layer (grey) > glass fiber (or so I think it is - a yellow wooly stuff like the one in your very first picture all the way on the left). The roof itself is thin - 20-30 cm or so, so we sleep in a room directly under that vent (i.e. the vent is about 30 cm higher than the top of the roof which we can touch from the inside).

I had to open up the grey insulation layer and remove some of the yellow wooly stuff when I installed the fan. Though I sealed the roof itself (corrugated iron), I did not seal much around the fiberglass, though I put it somewhat out of the way around the area in between the actual rotating roof vent and the roof vent (in the wood). So basically it is now like this: wood (with plastic roof vent) > open area of about 20-30cm height which contains the yellow wooly stuff and the opened up insulation later, both these starting about 5-10cm inwards > the actual roof vent/corrugated roof. IOW, I assume it is quite possible for fibers to dislodge from the yellow stuff and to enter through the plastic vent. We have a newborn sleeping upstairs, so I am concerned now that I have been looking more into this all. Another thing is that the wood (which is basically the whole roof of our bedroom) also has tiny holes. I guess this is not much of a concern since the grey insulation layer is still on top of it (I think, I have to go back onto the roof and see if the grey insulation is actually on top of the wood - presumably so - or on top of the yellow stuff). In any case, the vent concerns me now more than ever. What should I do? I have been thinking about getting some thin aluminum or so and making the roof vent tunnel complete (all the way to the wood - about 20-30cm) and sealing it up with silicon etc. Please advice, bit scared. - Anthony 12/20/11

Reply:

Anthony I'm sorry but I don't quite understand exactly the question nor situation you describe. Normally a roof vent or turbine vent as you describe pulls air (and thus any dust within the air) out of a roof cavity or attic, it doesn't send it backwards into the occupied space. Maybe a sketch or photo would help us understand what you're seeing.

Question: I cough when the forced air heat/cooling system runs; my boss has developed a lung condition.

I work for thomas brothers office furnishings. the building was built in 1883, so its has many issues. What concerns me is the forced air system. when it cycles, i and others have coughing fits. Recently my boss who has shared the same air as me for for the last 10 years now has a lung condition. He will either die from it or he will have to have a lung transplant. so of course now I'm worried. he's always said it was just dust. I've ask to be moved to another area of the building, but he said i d have to do it on my own time, that's ok with me but he won t move the phone or internet. So i really couldn't work there.

I would like to have this checked out. in a way that wouldn't cost me my job. I think the insulation in the duct work is breaking down and blowing out small flakes that we are breathing. Also i ask to wear a dust mask. My boss really got mad and would not let me wear it. Also i ve told him of my concerns he just thinks i m causing trouble. Also he is selling the building he s had it for 25 years. i can send a sample of the stuff in the duct work. what can i or should i do - Mike 1/23/12

Reply:

Mike,

Some of your questions such as wearing a respirator and possible unsafe or unhealthy conditions in the workplace are topics that would better be addressed by an OSHA representative, a union rep, or an attorney with appropriate expertise. From the nature of your question it sounds to me as if you should pursue those sources of help.

Dust of a variety of compositions can be a respiratory irritant at sufficient levels and of course some dust may contain more harmful or dangerous particles. T

o accurately assess the health of the workplace would require inspection and testing by a qualified expert. But sometimes even an amateur dust sample, such as a tape sample of settled dust collected from a recently-cleaned surface in the work area can give credible evidence of a possible or even probable problem.

Such tests as a rough, inexpert screening procedure are nto something I recommend as a normal thing to do - lest we waste people's time and money, but if you have reason to be particularly worried about your environment that might be a low-key and low-cost place to start.

Question: what should I do about my clothes exposed to fiberglass in my A/C closet?

I live in an apartment. Recently I found exposed yellow fiberglass insulation in my A/C closet. For about 1 1/2 months I have been uncomfortable. Itching, burning skin and finding particals embedded in my skin an bleeding and sores on my skin. I've had to soak in epson salts and hydrogen peroxide to calm my skin. I'm concerned about this apt being a safe and healthy environment. Should I just move, or is there a remedy to make this environment livable? - Carolyn 9/22/12

Reply:

Carolyn,

Presuming you're talking about a LOT of exposed fiberglass insulation are that your clothes were actually contacting, (a few inches of exposed insulation is not likely to explain your complaints) then the clothes can be laundered or drycleaned.

IN addition to cleaning clothing that may have gotten fiberglass insulation dust on it, it would make sense to cover exposed insulation - usually a closet is finished in drywall; temporarily you could even have someone staple up housewrap or plastic.

The steps you take to calm your skin might not in the long run be helping - that complaint and its solution are something to discuss with your doctor or with a referral to a dermatologist. You might also ask your doctor to evaluate whether or not you're suffering from Morgellon's disease.

Question: What are the potential hazards from dust created by cutting fiberglass reinforced plastic panels & what cleanup is suggested

I'm covering a new fireplace with faux-stone decorative panels made of fibreglass reinforced plastics (polyester resin + fiberglass + marble dust) and last Tuesday a panel was cut in the home (the others were generally cut outdoors). Since then my family and I have been living with thick dust 24 hours a day. I am pregnant and have two children aged 7 and 2 (the two-year-old boy now has cough and red eyes, and I have too in a milder way). I have tried to dust and clean the floor in the ordinary way but I'm not sure that's enough. Is this situation dangerous for my family? What can I do to definitely get rid of this dust? Do you think the FRP fireplace covering will cause health problems in the future once finished (considering the fact that it will be subject to heating)? - R.S. 10/19/2012, Italy

Reply: cleanup suggestions for FRP cutting dust

R.S.

Even without onsite testing, I agree that in general, exposure to high levels of almost any sort of dust, especially dust containing fine particulates, would be a respiratory irritant and at very high exposures or at chronic exposures is a potential health concern.

Large particles of plastic or fiberglass are typically not inhaled deeply into lungs, and as you'll read at our fiberglass hazards articles at InspectAPedia, are asserted by at least some studies as not a great hazard. But fine particulates can be more of a concern, and also fine particulates are not as easily cleaned or removed by ordinary housecleaning.

If a fiberglass reinforced plastic panel was cut inside your home and appeared to produce a lot of dust, I suggest that rather than spending the $1500. U.S. or so that would be the cost of a truly competent and reliable and thorough building inspection and testing, spend your time and money and effort on a thorough, or if you prefer, professional cleaning of the home, including areas more distant from the cutting source but to which small or fine dust particles may have traveled.

Just which areas need additional cleaning really depends on how far the cutting dust spread through the building - by direct air transport or potentially by movement through a warm air heat or cool air conditioning system if such were in operation and not well filtered. Certainly remote building areas closed off by doorways or other means during this problem are not as likely to have high levels of this irritating dust.

This cleanup typically involves HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping of all indoor surfaces and contents sufficient to remove most of the irritating dust. If there is central air conditioning or heating, it might be appropriate to clean  the ductwork (if it can be cleaned without damage) and air handler as well as of course changing the air filters.

Beyond cleaning, questions about persistent respiratory or health worries are a matter you should discuss with your physician. However you can take a look at the FRP example MSDS (material data safety sheet examples below - or better, obtain the product name for the FRP that was cut inside your home and thus you can obtain from the manufacturer the MSDS for that specific product). In the typical example MSDSs that we surveyed to research your question, the data asserts that about inhalation the MSDS states

Inhalation: Not considered a problem under normal use. Dust generated during machining can cause short-term irritation of the mouth, nose, throat or upper respiratory tract.

Eye contact: Not considered a problem under normal use. Contact with dust generated during machining can cause short-term irritation.

Skin contact: Not considered a problem under normal use. Contact with dust generated during machining can cause skin irritation.

Note further that depending on the product, there may be trace levels of formaldehyde present during machining or cutting - see the second MSDS we cite below.

Do keep me posted on how things progress, as what we learn may assist other readers.

If you haven't seen these articles, take a look atFIBERGLASS HAZARDS and Fiberglass Detection in Building Air

I'd welcome further questions that those articles may suggest to you or if that material is unclear.

FRP Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Products MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet Data

Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Product MSDS Information can also give some insight to potential health hazards as well as the contents of those products. Here are a few examples of FRP MSDS sheets:

  • "Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP)", Panolam Industries International Inc. 325 DeSoto Avenue Morristown, TN 37816 (423) 587-1842, [1]

    Quoting: Panolam FRP panels are solid sheets which are composed of fiberglass, inorganic fillers, pigments and other additives that are embedded in a cured unsaturated polyester resin. These panels are considered as “articles” as defined in the OSHA Hazard Communication standard in 29 CFR 1910.1200 (c) and are not considered hazardous under normal use. Fabricating, machining, etc. may produce dust, which should be controlled subject to the OSHA standards for particulate exposure as included below:
    FRP Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Product Dust Control Standards [1]
    Chemical Component OSHA PELs (Permissible Exposure Limits for the workplace) ACGIH TLV's (Threshold Limit Values)
    Particulate dust TWA: 15.0 mg/m3 (total dust) TWA: 5.0 mg/m3 (inhalable fraction)
    Particulate dust TWA: 5.0 mg/m3 (respirable fraction) TWA: 1 fiber/cm3 (respirable fraction)

  • "Acculam™ Melaglas" trade name "NEMA Grades G5/G9", Accurate Plastics, Inc. 18 Morris Place Yonkers, NY 10705-1929, Tel: 914-476-0700, Composition: Fiberglass & Melamine/formaldehyde Resin, [2],
    Quoting from that MSDS, Dust generated during grinding, cutting, or drilling fiber glass reinforced plastic produces respirable fiber shaped plastic (organic)
    particles which has an OSHA PEL of 5 mg/m3 and nonrespirable fibrous glass dust regulated by OSHA as noted above. Trace
    amounts (<0.05%) of formaldehyde may be present as an unreacted polymer precursor which may be released during machining
    operations as a co-contaminant with the dust. Formaldehyde has an OSHA PEL of 0.75 ppm


    FRP Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Product Composition & Dust Control Standards [2]

    Chemical Name OSHA PEL, TWA ACGIH Exposure limit TLV, TWA
    Fiberglass
    Continuous Filament
    15 mg/m3 (total dust)
    5 mg/m3 (respirable)
    10 mg/m3 (dust)
    Melamine/formaldehyde Resin   n/a

    Note:

    Dust generated during grinding, cutting, or drilling fiber glass reinforced plastic produces respirable fiber shaped plastic (organic)
    particles which has an OSHA PEL of 5 mg/m3 and nonrespirable fibrous glass dust regulated by OSHA as noted above. Trace
    amounts (<0.05%) of formaldehyde may be present as an unreacted polymer precursor which may be released during machining
    operations as a co-contaminant with the dust. Formaldehyde has an OSHA PEL of 0.75 ppm.

     

    FRP Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Product Composition & Dust Hazards Identification

    Dust generated during machining and grinding operations may cause skin and/or eye irritation. Fumes from thermal
    decomposition or burning may irritate eyes, nose, and throat. Minimize operator exposure to dust and fumes.
    Inhalation Inhalation of dust during machining and grinding operations may cause moderate irritation to mucous membranes and coughing
    Skin Contact with dust may cause moderate skin irritation.
    Eyes Contact with dust may cause moderate eye irritation, itching and redness.
    Ingestion Not determined;
    Cancer OSHA: N/A IARC: N/A NTP: N/A
    There are trace quantities of formaldehyde contained in the resin matrix. Formaldehyde is a Human Carcinogen according to IARC and classified as Reasonably Anticipated To Be a Human Carcinogen by NTP.
    Chronic Dust generated during grinding, cutting, or drilling fiber glass reinforced plastic contains
    respirable fiber shaped plastic (organic) particles and nonrespirable fibrous glass dust. Prolonged inhalation of dust can produce lung disease.

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

  • [1] "Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP)", Panolam Industries International Inc. 325 DeSoto Avenue Morristown, TN 37816 (423) 587-1842, retrieved 10/21/2012, original source: http://www.panolam.com/frp/FRP/PDF/FRP_msds_9.28.09.pdf
  • [2] "Acculam™ Melaglas" trade name "NEMA Grades G5/G9", Accurate Plastics, Inc. 18 Morris Place Yonkers, NY 10705-1929, Tel: 914-476-0700, Composition: Fiberglass & Melamine/formaldehyde Resin, retrieved 10/21/2012, original source: http://www.acculam.com/MSDS-Melaglas.pdf
  • [3] Fiberglass carcinogenicity: "Glass Wool Fibers Expert Panel Report, Part B - Recommendation for Listing Status for Glass Wool Fibers and Scientific Justification for the Recommendation", The Report on Carcinogens (RoC) expert panel for glass wool fibers exposures met at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel, Chapel Hill, North Carolina on June 9-10, 2009, to peer review the draft background document on glass wool fibers exposures and make a recommendation for listing status in the 12th Edition of the RoC. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is one of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The National Toxicology Program is headquartered on the NIEHS campus in Research Triangle Park, NC. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is one of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The National Toxicology Program is headquartered on the NIEHS campus in Research Triangle Park, NC.
    Following a discussion of the body of knowledge, the expert panel reviewed the RoC listing criteria and made its recommendation. The expert panel recommended by a vote of 8 yes/0 no that glass wool fibers, with the exception of special fibers of concern (characterized physically below), should not be classified either as known to be a human carcinogen or reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. The expert panel also recommended by a vote of 7 yes/0 no/1 abstention, based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in well-conducted animal inhalation studies, that special-purpose glass fibers with the physical characteristics as follows longer, thinner, less soluble fibers (for 1 example, > 15 μm length with a kdis of < 100 ng/cm2/h) are reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen for the listing status in the RoC. The major considerations discussed that led the panel to its recommendation include the observations of tumors in multiple species of animals (rats and hamsters). Both inhalation and intraperitoneal routes of exposure produced tumors, although inhalation was considered more relevant for humans.
  • Fiberglass insulation mold: occurrence of mold contamination in fiberglass insulation can be impossible to see with the naked eye, but can be significant
  • World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer - IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans - VOL 81 Man-Made Vitreous Fibers, 2002, IARCPress, Lyon France, pi-ii-cover-isbn.qxd 06/12/02 14:15 Page i - World Health Organization, 1/21/1998. - Fiberglass insulation is an example of what IARC refers to as man made vitreous fiber - inorganic fibers made primarily from glass, rock, minerals, slag, and processed inorganic oxides. This article provides enormous detail about fiberglass and other vitreous fibers, and includes fiberglass exposure data.
  • http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol81/mono81.pdf - the article (large PDF over 6MB)
    http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol81/mono81-6A.pdf - article details
    http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol81/mono81-6C.pdf - studies of cancer in experimental animals in re vitreous fibers such as fiberglass;
    http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol81/mono81-6E.pdf - summary of data reported & evaluation
    http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol81/mono81-6F.pdf for the article references
    To search the IARC monographs on various environmental concerns and carcinogens, use http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/PDFs/index.php
  • ...

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