Inhalable Glass Wool Fibers are a Potential Carcinogenic Risk

PRLog (Press Release) - Jun. 20, 2011 - Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, working through the National Toxicology Program, released the 12th Report on Carcinogens. The Report on Carcinogens (RoC) is a congressionally mandated, science-based, public health document that is prepared for the HHS Secretary by the National Toxicology Program. The report identifies agents, substances, mixtures, and exposure circumstances that are known or reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in humans.

One substance that came under the scrutiny of the RoC was inhalable glass wool fibers.  Glass wool fibers are synthetic or man-made, very small finely spun fibers of glass that form a mass resembling wool. There is considerable variation in the properties of individual fibers within this class, depending on the manufacturing process and end use. They are commonly used for insulation or filtration.  

There are generally two categories of glass wool fibers that consumers might use: low-cost general-purpose fibers and premium special-purpose fibers. Most home and building insulation projects use general-purpose glass wool. Special-purpose glass fibers are used for applications, such as separating the negative and positive plates in a battery, and in high-efficiency air filters and aircraft, spacecraft and acoustical insulation.

“People are most commonly exposed to glass wool fibers by inhaling them in the workplace where products containing glass wool fibers are produced,” reported Susan White, Ph.D., CMC, President of Sussex Environmental Health Consultants (SEHC), a leading Mid-Atlantic indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental consulting firm.    “However, even people working on home improvement projects installing or removing insulation made of glass wool may be exposed. Testing to identify glass wool materials and levels in the air can help prevent exposure,” she continued.  

The National Toxicology Program lists certain glass wool fibers as reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.  To learn more about glass wool fibers or how SEHC can help protect people from exposure, please visit http://www.sussexenvironmental.com, email susan.white@mchsi.com or call (302) 947-1810.

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About Sussex Environmental Health Consultants, LLC
SEHC is a certified woman owned business that provides environmental and health and safety consulting services. The company is located in the Mid-Atlantic and services clients nationwide. SEHC provides solutions to clients ranging from homeowners to international Fortune 500 corporations.

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