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Photograph of chopped fiberglass insulation Fiberglass Hazards Buildings
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This article series provides information about how to identify fiberglass insulation in buildings and fiberglass hazards and fiberglass insulation contamination issues in residential and light-commercial buildings.

We also discuss proper practices for installing, inspecting, and where necessary, repairing fiberglass building insulation.

Note: fiberglass research literature is replete with studies indicating that there are no health hazards associated with airborne fiberglass particles, and with a smaller number of 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.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

How to Identify or Recognize Fiberglass Insulation in buildings

Photo of fiberglass flex duct air conditioning ductworkHere we discuss the following: 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

[Click to enlarge any image]

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.

photo of yellow fiberglass 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

. In field and laboratory experience with dust collection and characterization we have found that small particles in the PM1 or smaller range are most-often not looked-for and not reported

It is possible that by failing to screen for and detect any particle during environmental testing or health studies, the effects of those particles are under-stated or missed entirely.

See details at FIBERGLASS DETECTION in BUILDING AIR & DUST

photo of pink fiberglass building insulation

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.

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

photo of green fiberglass building 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 photographs.

photo of white fiberglass building insulation

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 [link just below] 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.

See FIBERGLASS FRAGMENT HAZARDS in AIR or 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 FIBERGLASS HVAC DUCTS.

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.

Also see FORMALDEHYDE in FIBERGLASS INSULATION - some fiberglass resin binders use formaldehyde.

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

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 & DUST.

Also see INSULATION PRODUCTS MSDS

and FIBERGLASS INSULATION EXPOSURE LIMITS.

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

Reader 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.

In addition to consulting your doctor who may in turn decide to refer you to a dermatologist, you might also benefit from reviewing

the ITCHING & SCRATCHING RESEARCH found in

our article concerning MORGELLONS SYNDROME.

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.

More about fiberglass exposure and itching and cleaning fiberglass-contaminated clothing are below in FAQs about fiberglass dust, particle, & mold hazards in buildings

Reader Question: Fiberglass (or Kevlar) fiber exposure dangers from boat building

2016/02/14 Char said:

When you say that there is always detectable amounts of fiberglass in air/dust, is it in noticeable amounts or microscopic or...? Should I be concerned about exposed insulation in my basement? And, when they're talking about special-purpose fiberglass being a carcinogen, what makes it "special purpose" and what products fall into that?

Would fiberglass from building boats/canoes be in that category? Thanks in advance, I'm having some fiberglass contamination issues and trying to learn what I can.

This question was posted originally

at ENVIRO-SCARE - PUBLIC FEAR CYCLES where we discuss worries about fiberglass exposure.

Reply: OSHA & Other Regulations & Guidance about Fiberglass, Synthetic & Mineral Fiber Exposure

Char:

Having examined many indoor dust and air samples, I intended to say that I will almost always find at least some fiberglass fragments in most buildings. However the number of such particles will not normally be significant - certainly it's not the dominant particle.

Fiberglass release from building boats/canoes would be more noticeable as the fiberglass is cut, handled or abraded such as by sanding. In such an environment it might be significant, depending on what work is being done and how dust control is being managed.

I'd be more concerned about very small fiberglass fragments in the 1u range that may be released by grinding or sanding.

Char said:

So how concerned should I be... Building canoes we cut fiberglass matting and I wear a respirator, but I always get a significant amount on my clothing/jacket and it gets tracked into my vehicle and home. There is enough in my vehicle that I can easily see dozens of fibers, hundreds, when I shine a light.

My work has no dust collection system, only gloves, apron, and respirators. We also cut Kevlar, but I'm only really concerned with the fiberglass.

Reply: OSHA regulations & guidance on exposure to synthetic & mineral fibers

Char

I cannot assess nor even guess at actual airborne particle level exposures from an e-text. Certainly there are OSHA regulations about dust control in the workplace.

ACGIH Recommended Airborne Exposure Limits to Fiberglass

The recommended airborne exposure limit is 1 fiber/cubic centimeter (for respirable fibers greater than 5 micrometers in length) averaged over an 8-hour work shift. 

NIOSH Recommended Airborne Exposure Limits to Fiberglass

The recommended airborne exposure limit is 3 fibers/m3 (for fibers less than or equal to 3.5 micrometers in diameter and greater than 10 micrometers in length) and 5 mg/m3 (for total particulates) averaged over a 10-hour workshift.

OSHA Fiberglass PEL

The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 5 mg/m3 (for the respirable fraction) and 15 mg/m3 (as total particulate) averaged over an 8-hour workshift.

Really? OPINION: Notice that there are no exposure standards for ultra-small fiberglass fragments, possibly because the exposure guideline writers focused on intact, un-damaged fiberglass substances in normal use and exposure.

Fiberglass Information from OSHA,

Synthetic mineral fibers are fibrous inorganic substances made primarily from rock, clay, slag, or glass. These fibers are classified into three general groups: fiberglass (glass wool and glass filament), mineral wool (rock wool and slag wool), and refractory ceramic fibers (RCF).

There are more than 225,000 workers in the US exposed to synthetic mineral fibers in manufacturing and end-use applications.

How do I find out about employer responsibilities and workers' rights?

Workers have a right to a safe workplace. The law requires employers to provide their employees with safe and healthful workplaces. The OSHA law also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for exercising their rights under the law (including the right to raise a health and safety concern or report an injury). For more information see www.whistleblowers.gov or Workers' rights under the OSH Act.

OSHA can help answer questions or concerns from employers and workers. To reach your regional or area OSHA office, go to the OSHA Offices by State web page or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).

Small businesses may contact OSHA's free On-site Consultation services funded by OSHA to help determine whether there are hazards at their worksites. To contact free consultation services, go to OSHA's On-site Consultation webpage or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) and press number 4.

Workers may file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their workplace if they believe that their employer is not following OSHA standards or that there are serious hazards.

Workers can file a complaint with OSHA by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), online via eComplaint Form, or by printing the complaint form and mailing or faxing it to the local OSHA area office

. Complaints that are signed by a worker are more likely to result in an inspection.

If you think your job is unsafe or if you have questions, contact OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). Your contact will be kept confidential. We can help. For other valuable worker protection information, such as Workers' Rights, Employer Responsibilities, and other services OSHA offers, visit OSHA's Workers' page. - retrieved 2016/02/16, original source: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/syntheticmineralfibers/

Fiberglass & Mineral or Synthetic Fiber Exposure Hazard Research, Standards & Regulations

This section has moved to

FIBERGLASS HAZARD RESEARCH

Additional fiberglass hazard research citations are given just below

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-03-04 by InspectApedia Publisher - easy and inexpensive to mail dust samples to any environmental lab located anywhere

@Pamela,

Regarding your note that

I could not find anyone that will run an analysis of settled dust in my area.

Settled dust is not degradable - that is, it does not have an expiration time, so it is easy and inexpensive to mail dust samples to any environmental lab located anywhere. There are plenty of environmental test labs who provide testing nationally.

Our page top EXPERTS DIRECTORY
provides this link

ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTORS & TESTING SERVICES

But of course the samples that you have collected have to have been collected properly or the lab may not be able to make use of them.

An example of a very inexpensive dust sampling method using clear adhesive tape and freezer-type ziplok bags is at

DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE

Regarding your remark about being dissatisfied with information you could not find at InspectApedia, we are of course sorry if you didn't find information you need or want here. We have researched and published quite a bit on this topic.

If you have a specific question we'll be glad to essay an answer or to point you to a resource.

About your comments on fiberglass and its hazard - or not-hazard classification, I think you may have misunderstood what you've read here.

Fiberglass particles are well-established as a skin irritant and might be a respiratory irritant. Usually those are comparatively large fibers, easily detected in dust samples and on surfaces. (And usually, easily cleaned if necessary.)

Previous researchers worried that fiberglass might also be a carcinogen. There has been an enormous amount of research on that topic, with various conclusions, of which the dominant and current main stream opinion is that fiberglass is not carcinogenic.

I [DF] was worried that very small fiberglass particles, down in the 1u range might be more-harmful and that the effect of such particles (that do NOT occur at high levels in all fiberglass dust samples but do in some) might have been under-estimated because of the difficulty of even detecting such particles without using exactly the right procedure (such as using a slide mountant with the right refractive index).

But further research has been done on that topic by experts as well, and their conclusion, as you can read in various references and research citations provided in this article series, has been that those are also not likely to be as significant a health risk as we may have thought.

About cleaning up fiberglass dust: it is not necessary nor appropriate to try to remove 100% of fiberglass particles from a building or vehicle. It is normal for us to find some fiberglass fibers in every indoor dust sample as that material is so ubiquitous in buildings. However if dust samples show that fiberglass particles are the dominant particle in a sample or are present in high levels as a percent of building dust, then yes, additional cleaning by damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming may be in order.

Watch out: very high level of worry about fiberglass might cost you in both money and health more than is merited. For example read about MORGELLONS SYNDROME https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/Morgellons_Syndrome.php

Finally, about the medical concerns you raise, it is essential that you find a doctor whom you trust and listen to her advice.

Best wishes, and thank you again for contacting us.

###

InspectAPedia.com® is an independent publisher of building, environmental, and forensic inspection, diagnosis, and repair information provided to the public at no cost.

In order to absolutely assure our readers that we write and report without bias, we do not sell any products or services, nor do we have any business or financial relationships with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website.

We very much welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions for our web articles. Website content contributors, even if it's just a small correction, are cited, quoted, and linked-to from the appropriate additional web pages and articles - which benefits us both.

Working together and exchanging information makes us better informed than any individual can be working alone.

More about us is at ABOUT InspectApedia.com https://inspectapedia.com/Admin/About_InspectApedia.php

On 2023-03-04 by Pamela

@InspectApedia Publisher, update: march 3, 2023- I could not find anyone that will run an analysis of settled dust in my area. I’ve called the local university and a butt load of other places. Nothing. Ive saved plenty of samples in case I do ever find one. I’d read that this site does them. Is that not a thing anymore? Doesn’t matter.

Reading through various posts and threads on different topics regarding fiberglass particles I’ve noticed the answers back to the questions are pretty much all the same: fiberglass is harmless. It’s now been 6 months of my nightmare with fiberglass dust/particlulate. I have done all the things mentioned to clean this up plus more since I left the house in November.

Thoroughly cleaned with hepa, wipe down, getting rid of things only to find it all over every single day & going to great lengths to get rid of this stuff to keep my son safe. I now have permanent damage to my eyes, sinuses, other places I won’t mention and for some reason peripheral neuropathy. I used a mask & goggles.

It’s destroyed my car, my mothers car, all her furniture, (of course all of my furniture) flooring (somehow this stuff sticks like glue) replaced clothing 5 times and am out of money, 3-4 ER visits and killed the family dog. This stuff takes you down where you’re already weak. I could not afford pro cleaners to come in.

My mother just was in the ER yesterday on my birthday. And after all this it just won’t go away. I don’t have any idea what else I can do. I’m sitting here typing this with clubbed fingers and fiberglass imbedded in my clothes. No matter what I do or how many times I replace items it never gets better.

I’ve just accepted it now that it’s just going to be in our lives forever. Most every reply to posts I’ve seen on here by people that are either over reacting or actually going through it are basically invalidated or dismissed as being nonsense. Don’t run a site to help people if you’re irritated by helping. I was hopeful when I first came across this website. You might have statistical knowledge based on what the government gives but that’s not always the 100% truth to every single incident. Not everyone is overreacting.

fiberglass particles concerns (C) InspectApedia.com Pamela

On 2023-01-19 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Pamela,

Sure, most environmental testing labs can analyze dust sample.

If you do that let me know the result.

What action will that guide?

On 2023-01-19 by Pamela

I have a few samples of dust from fiberglass insulation. Is there a way to send them in to be analyzed? A lot from clothes from the dryer vent.

fiberglass particles concerns (C) InspectApedia.com Pamela

On 2023-01-18 by InspectApedia Publisher - the more "stuff" you can clean, the less dust you'll import

@ Jose P.,

Sure, so when moving, the more "stuff" you can clean the less dust you'll import. Clothes or soft goods get laundered / dry-cleaned. Hard surfaces that have any notable dust can be damp-wiped. Other stuff can be HEPA - vaccumed. That's a pretty inexpensive procedure that you can do as a DIY project in the course of moving.

On 2023-01-18 by Jose P.

@InspectApedia Publisher,

We have a 20 month old and didn't want to take any risks. The air quality protocol couldn't guarantee fiberglass removal, we were putting the house up for sale anyways and all the bedding was for a queen. We needed a King size bed either way so decided to opt for replacement.

Unfortunately the apartment we rented had open insulation in the air handler as well and glass fibers were found in the air column. Luckily we had yet to purchase many goods, I prefer not to risk cross-contaminating the next apartment or house. Moving forward I will always check the air handler prior to signing a lease or purchasing a home.

On 2023-01-17 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Jose P.,

I'm sorry to read that you found such extreme measures necessary.

I agree that odor absorption can be hard to get rid-of, depending on the chemistry of the odor and its source.

But that's not so much the case with fiberglass dust. With the source removed, damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming ought to bring most sorts of annoying indoor dust to very low levels.

On 2023-01-17 by Jose P.

@Pamela A,

My family and I had an AC contractor attach the Air Handler panel with exposed fiberglass. I did and air quality test with Adaptive Environmental, I don't know if they operate in your state. In short we tossed everything and started fresh, even then our next apartment the same thing. My plans moving forward are again to toss all porous content but the next apartment I will perform the test prior.

Good luck but I recommend all porous objects (cloth, paper, spongy etc.) to discard and start fresh. All hard surfaces clean them outside prior to entering the new apartment.

Better to be done with it once and for all..

On 2023-01-15 by Pamela A - extreme issues with fiberglass dust and particles in home

Re-posting from private email

5 months ago my 5 year old and I moved into an apartment. When we moved in, I noticed a very heavy chemical odor, sometimes what people call that new smell. We’d just moved out of bad situation with toxic mold and had been without a home for a while and I was exhausted so I put it behind my mind. I also noticed a thick amount of what looked like dust hanging around the ceiling and vents but assuming it was dust and needed cleaning.

After a couple weeks I noticed after I’d do laundry, particularly drying anything, whatever I’d put in there to dry would come out covered in a thick bluish-grey “lint”. And anything I’d dry would become ruined by this fuzz, or the new item would come out if the dryer looking like it was 10 years old.

This continued on and I started noticing things would be covered in fuzz and dust very quickly after dusting. I couldn’t keep up with the amount of dust I was seeing. I’d lint roll our bedding and pillows every night because we both were reacting to whatever this was.

This lint thing drive me nuts because our clothes would be so full of dust and fibers you could just flick your pants or bump up against something and thick plumes of dust would come out. Even our towels. Id have to send my son to school like this because for the life of me, i could not get whatever was going on under control.

I also could not get whatever is coming out of the carpet out. It’s a heavy grey what I thought was just dust but had no idea how it was getting there, and these white “hairs”. I thought okay, someone had a dog in here and im allergic to dogs so this is why we’re both sick. They seemingly would never stop coming out of the carpet. I had the carpets cleaned but it was still being found in the canister after vacuuming. I have pictures.

I assumed it was my dryer vent clogged and asked my landlord to come look at it to figure it out and he never did. So this went on and I tried figuring it out myself by cleaning what I could in the dryer vent but it got worse. Up until a couple months ago a

My son has missed essentially his entire year of kindergarten being sick from this with upper respiratory infections, ear infections, sinus infections and eye issues and is still suffering. Not including everything I was going through but I’m also immune compromised from an auto immune disease I take immune suppressant medication for and just told myself I was having allergies to something else.

It got worse though. I started noticing if I left my coat or anything, we’d be covered in this white powdery substance that was also shiny in light. I have pictures of this too. There was so much if it. Also mixed in is what looks like white, silvery shards of shiny particles.

These particles are a mixture of powder that’s white, shiny powder, shiny sharp flecks or shards, shiny fibers, white fibers and white shiny flecks of what looks and feels like fiberglass. It hurts to touch, it hurts if it gets into your skin, especially after if it’s a large shard. There is so much of this it’s hard to put into describing because it’s literally everywhere. I did some research and what it looks like and feels like is fiberglass insulation.

It’s also all over every surface. When my landlord came over after 4 months to clean the dryer vent I told him the stuff I’m finding is fiberglass insulation. I can’t remember how we got in the subject but he told me the vent for the dryers heat shares the same duct as the regular hvac heat.

It seemed like this problem got worse after it got cold when we started using more heat. The landlord found a little “lint” in the duct and told me that it looks just like the insulation they used up in the attic, which is where the hvac runs through. The venting comes from above.

Just typing this has got me overwhelmed. I can’t be 100# that this is fiberglass insulation until I get it tested. I can only say that based on what it looks like, feels like and description of problems I believe it is fiberglass insulation particles. An insane amount of it. My words can’t describe the sheer amount of this stuff.

It’s been blown into all of our clothing and bedding, towels every time we dried something. And it’s also coming out of the vents. What I thought were white dog hairs I now suspect are fiberglass strands. How they are in the carpet, I don’t know. Is it coming from the carpet and ductwork including the dryer vent? Or is the ventilation system sucking this up and blowing it out?

I don’t know and I don’t think I’ll ever get an answer. The landlord doesn’t want to invest too much. I do really need to find out how I can identify this and identify the amount of this. I had not been able to get any answers or help.

I’ve called the health department, the health department’s environmental services, coding, hvac coding, the occupational health department at our local university, the hvac people, etc and no one can help me. I can’t afford to do a air sample test because it’s at least $600.

I did order a fiberglass home text and a formaldehyde home test because the odor got worse over time and I was reacting to what felt like a fume with dizziness, confusion, couldn’t breathe, eye irritation, and when I’d step out side I’d get better. My mother also would get so sick to her stomach being there for a few minutes. Im not sure if it’s formaldehyde but i do believe we were sick from whatever it is there odor wise as well. It is STRONG.

My son had nosebleeds, headaches, sore throat and definite behavioral changes. I chalked up to stress from our move but I’m putting more things together and it makes sense from what I’m reading. This issue with the fibers alone is just mind blowing. We left the apartment and we’ve contaminated two other houses with this stuff almost killing the family dog.

It’s so bad so severe the new house were in is covered in this. It’s in the bed, millions of particles imbedded in our new clothes, shoes, socks and underwear. Since being there I’d started getting urinary tract and kidney infections with severe urinary and kidney pain that’s not cleared in 3 months because of the fibers imbedded and in my underwear.

I didn’t know what this was. I have small cuts all over my hand and a itchy rash on my arms but none of that even compares to the amount of this you can see in the light, especially if it’s something dark. It’s all over my car, in the seat, vevnts even the outside of the car. I cannot out run this stuff no matter what I’ve done so I’ve given up.

I’m beyond frustrated and exhausted from trying to contain and clean this, Re purchasing everything then it be ruined again with these fibers. There is so much of it. I actually hope I’m losing my mind in a way because it would mean all this isn’t real.

We’re still covered and imbedded with this stuff even after leaving because I brought clothing from there with us and mixed it with our new clothes in a state of utter despair and exhaustion. So now it’s everywhere at the new house now but at least we’re not breathing it from the ventilation system.

Overall, I’d really appreciate if someone could help me find out ways to have this tested and the amounts tested for documentation purposes. I am temporarily disabled from illnesses related to autoimmune and toxic mold and am a single parent so my funding is limited.

But if anyone knows the right places to call I’d appreciate it so much! I have a limited amount of time before everything has to be out of the apartment and want to make sure I can get any evidence I might need before not having any access. I don’t think I’ll be able to get into the attic to see what type of insulation is up there. I only know some of it is blown in. But that doesn’t rule out what could be behind the walls or anything else.

On 2023-01-12 by InspectApedia Publisher - clean up fiberglass bits in driveway

@Anonymous by private email,

why not just use a HEPA Vac - if you wet the fiberglass you may find that it will be even harder to remove from a driveway or yard surface.

To protect yourself 100% from exposure to any dust (though in my opinion that is significant overkill), you'd need to vacate the property, hire a mold or asbestos remediation company, and have pre- and post- inspections and tests, none of which is in my view likely to be necessary. (This is a general opinion as we know nothing about your property.)

More reasonable would be to wear a HEPA-rated respirator to protect yourself from breathing in unwanted dust. Additional normal protective measures like goggles, gloves, Tyvek oversuit, are more options that are easily obtained.

On 2023-01-12 by Anonymous by private email

I have a question for you. Neighbours have had their cavity wall insulation removed and this has resulted in a large quantity of loose fluffy bits of fibreglass strewn all over the driveway. The driveway is a kind of tarmac so the fibreglass tends to get stuck.

I am thinking using a wet vac. First wet the whole area with water and then vacuum up. Do you know if this would work? I dont know how effective it would be. The surface is quite rough so you cannot apply much pressure against it. Dry vacuuming would probably work best but it would also emit a small amount of dust through the exhaust.

I need a way to clean this all up in a way which does not expose me in any way to any dust hence i thought wetting it would be the best way.
- Dec 7, 2022

On 2022-07-05 by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@deanna still,

I doubt that your homeowners insurance will pay for harm to your body that you think came from fiberglass or from a dead animal.

On 2022-07-05 by deanna still

is it possible tht your home owner insurnce could pay aa portion if these liitle fiberglass or residual from dead animal harmed my body
my d=eamil is deannastill96@gmail.com
we hd an enviromental reporesentttive come and
gather samples with some machines to federal express them to
corpoate offices

On 2022-01-24 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Mamie Lawson,

You can find environmental consultants who know how to inspect for and if appropriate, test for indoor air contaminants including fibrerglass, at the page top EXPERTS DIRECTORY

On 2022-01-24 by Mamie Lawson

Provide names of labs and contact information for levels of fiberglass insulation in a home suspected of severe contamination. Email lovedgreg1@gmail.com

On 2021-04-15 by Anon - glass fibers from a foam mattress ?

Hello! I sent an email to you all about help with our problem with glass fibers from a [Zinus] memory foam mattress that we have been living with all over our home for a year and a half ...

Anonymous by private email 2021/04/15

- This discussion has moved to FIBERGLASS SHEDDING from MATTRESSES

On 2021-04-23 - by (mod) -

@Hannah, try adding an image using the "Add Image" button

On 2021-04-23 by Hannah

Hello, this is where the pipe leak was found in apartment, they've left this hole open for over 2 days now, it has a musty after shower smell-does this look normal, and if not is this hazardous. Thank you

On 2015-09-01 - by (mod) -

That's a question for your daughters doctor.

In my experience dust can aggravate or trigger an asthma attack but from your etext we cannot guess what level of dust you contributed.

On 2015-09-01 by Holz311

I have been exposed to fiberglass particles at work. I am not in construction, but somehow there are fiberglass particles in my office space. My daughter had to be hospitalized for a severe asthma attack. Could the fibers from my clothes trigger her asthma?

On 2015-07-26 by randy

For years fiberglass insulation has been used to seal the damper when installing pellet stoves with no issues. Now, a customer has been told by the chimney sweep that it emits toxic fumes when heated. I say nonsense! What say you?.....thanks

On 2015-07-10 - by (mod) -

Sounds unusual. It may be sufficient to HEPA vacuum and damp wipe the interior.

On 2015-07-10 by Larry

I had some people who had been working on insulation enter my house while still wearing their work clothes.

This went on for awhile until the job was done. Now I've noticed, literally in every room, there is shiny long fibres on everything. In my clothes, bedding, on counters, on basically every surface you can find at least some. My computer even sucked a bunch in. How dangerous is this and what should I do? Thanks

On 2015-07-06 - by (mod) -

Don I read 3 things to address

1 seal the attic hatch

2 find why air is flowing backwards down into the home instead of up and out through roof vents

3 HEOA vacuum up the dust

On 2015-07-05 by Don Berg

My attic was not sealed prior to a roofing Co. Installation requirement of Title 24 and now have fiberglass down into the house. Particles of fiberglass are coming from assess to attic and all over the cooking stove / house and bath
/ air vents.

On 2015-06-28 by flori

I ripped off a small piece of fiberglaaa from behind my ac cover. Am I in danger

On 2013-03-22 - by (mod) -

Mike

Maybe because
- they're right
or
- they're giving advice that's safe and profitable for them, spending more of your money

In any event, if HVAC ducts are properly installed, undamaged, are not themselves lined with fiberglass, and thus are not leaky, they wouldn't be expected to move fiberglass or other attic insulation into the home.

But if there are leaky return ducts in an attic it is conceivable that attic dust and insulation might be drawn into the duct system.

A final case, less likely but not impossible, could be a negative pressurization problem.

If supply and return are not properly balanced it is possible (though uncommon) for an HVAC system to create negative air pressure in some of the occupied space of the building. If occupied space is at lower pressure than an attic space, it is possible for dust and particles from the attic or roof space to be drawn into the living area.

An example of this that I've encountered was use of a whole house vent fan mounted in a top floor ceiling, blowing into an attic that lacked adequate exit venting.

The result was a pressurized attic that blew air back down into the living space through various openings.

On 2013-03-21 by mikenoblet@whidbey.com

Rod,
Why is it that NO ONE in the HVAC world has EVER heard of forced air heating systems causing attic insulation to be drawn into the home? I ask the question since every HVAC person I have asked has not a clue. Some want to hit us up for duct cleaning @$700 a wack. Another wanted to fruad us for close to $10 K to replace the plastic warm air ducts with metal ones.

We have canned lights that appear to not be sealed. The result is battle ship grey dust in copious amounts closest to the furnance returns and the least at the opposite side of the house.

We tried filters on the cold air return which collected dust but did not lower it in the home.

We have an electrostic air filter which does not touch the dust. We experimented by replacing the electrostic filters with pleated paper ones - to zero improvement.

Any suggestions are welcome

Mike Noblet - Whidbey Island WA

On 2013-03-11 - by (mod) -

Rod yours is a question for an attorney. If she or he takes the case on a fee-contingent basis then it probably has merit.

On 2013-03-11 by Rod

My parents home has fiberglass pollution from HVAC fiberglass lining inside the ducts. They must be replaced. How can I get insurance or the company who installed them pay for replacement ducts since the pollution is killing them?

On 2013-01-11 by Gerald

I had my ac unit replaced and they installed new ducts. most of the ducts blew pieces of the blown-in insulation as soon as the unit was turned on the first time. a couple of the ducts have sporatically coughed up pieces of insulation since installation. Is there a health risk associated with this?

On 2013-01-02 by Nicole owens

I work in a fiberglass fabrication plant. I deal with styrene from resin and other noxious fumes as well as fiberglass dust. Can this be harmful to myself and my fetus?

On 2012-09-24 by Kevin

Comment to Carolyn re exposed fiber glass: A small area can easily be taped up using aluminum duct tape for a relatively permanent and good quality seal.

This tape, available from any major building materials supplier (example: Home Depot) is actually made of aluminum and is durable. Do NOT use cloth duct tape - usually grey. It is garbage and will only add to the problem.

Question: Clarify the size of fiberglass fragments and fibers

Great site - thank you so much. I'm confused about this statement:

"Fiberglass insulation fibers, intact, un-damaged tend to be quite large in length, similar to human hair, though we find diameters varying widely down to close to 1um in some cases; however crushed, walked-on, or mechanically-damaged fiberglass insulation can produce particles down to a few microns in size or perhaps even smaller."

If undamaged is 1um, are you saying that damaged is larger (a few microns)? - AG 07/23/2012

This Q&A were posted originally at AIRBORNE PARTICLE SIZE DEFINITIONS & TYPES

Reply: Fiberglass particle size vs health hazards

AG thank you for pointing out my confusing statement, I will rewrite it for clarity.

What I meant to say is that

  1. damaged fiberglass insulation can produce high levels of very small particles in the 1u range, (measured across the particle's longest axis) maybe even smaller,
  2. normal, intact fiberglass insulation consists of much larger particles of great length, even though the diameters of some of those long, thus very large in length, may be thin in fiber diameter.
  3. Undamaged fiberglass fragment or fibre size = long lengths of varying diameters, low risk of deep inhalation
  4. Damaged fiberglass fragment or fibre size = includes many short small particles down at 1u range

See FIBERGLASS HAZARDS - home



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