Fiberglass Insulation Dangers to Be Aware Of

The most widely used insulation on the market today is fiberglass insulation. Fiberglass insulation is readily available and is the least expensive type of insulation to buy. But the drawback to fiberglass are becoming more an more apparent. Just as asbestos was demonstrated to be a health danger, fiberglass insulation is fast gaining the reputation of being more harmful than helpful. Some areas are already banning  fiberglass insulation for residential use. The dangers associated with fiberglass are described here.

Skin Irritation

Fiberglass insulation is made out of a mixture of several recycled items including metal and stone. This material is spun so fine that it can easily embed itself under your skin. This can cause severe skin irritation including hives and itching. To alleviate this pain you will need to take a rigorous shower with a scrub brush and then use plenty of lotion.

Eye Irritation

When working with fiberglass insulation it is important to wear safety equipment and indispensable item is safety glasses. Your regular eye glasses will not provide sufficient protection; you will want to use full goggles. If the fine fibers in fiberglass insulation were to get in your eyes you could experience anything from minor itching to blindness. Never scratch your eyes if you're exposed to fiberglass as the fibers could scratch the cornea to the point where you could no longer see.

Breathing Problems

Your lungs are very delicate and susceptible to damage from unhealthful elements in the air around you. If you are walking around the city and step behind a car that is idling you would take a mouthful of exhaust. The same scenario applies to breathing fiberglass insulation into your lungs, but it can be much worse than exhaust. If you do not utilize a face mask to protect yourself while working with fiberglass insulation you will soon find yourself coughing after several minutes. That cough is developed because the fibers from the insulation have started to make their way into your lungs. If you spend too much time working with fiberglass insulation you will notice increased coughing as well as the spitting up of blood. This is a very dangerous situation and you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Toxic Fumes

Fiberglass insulation is not completely fireproof and will smolder before it actually burns. This gives you a window of time in which to escape the home or for the firefighters to get the flames under control and extinguished. What is not known about fiberglass insulation is that when it smolders it creates a gas that can be damaging your lungs, your heart and cause a myriad of irritations. This is the case because fiberglass insulation is treated with formaldehyde. This is the same chemical that is flushed through the body of a dead person to remove fluids and to preserve it. It is very toxic.