Airborne fiberglass dust hazards & the role of particle size in particle detection as well as in health risk assessment:

Most buildings Probably have Mostly Large Fiberglass Fragments. Prudent Avoidance of Fiberglass Insulation Dust makes sense.

This article provides information about fiberglass fragments and indoor air quality fiberglass contamination issues in residential and light-commercial buildings.

Airborne Fiberglass Fragment Hazard FAQs

Questions & answers about fiberglass particles in indoor air, posted originally

at FIBERGLASS FRAGMENT HAZARDS in AIR or DUST

On 2017-10-29 by Vern

Is it safe to stuff return/fresh air duct with fiberglass (stuffed inside)?

On 2017-04-13 by Amy

Hello,

We had a crew not do such a great job removing water damage from our home. They left wet fiber glass insulation in and decided to put fans on it, which just pushed around fiber glass particles into the air. Also they did not cover the return vent.
Currently the furnace is off and just the air scrubber and dehumidifier are running.

I have a 9 month old child and i worry that the furnace filter would not be able to remove the fiber glass particles brought in by the return vent. Is this a high risk to our child? what steps do you recommend to mitigate this? Is it dangerous to keep a child in the house under this situation?

On 2017-03-19 by (mod) -

Anon

What you describe sounds awful to me too, though I suspect it was an unnecessary hell or at least premature hellinization since I don't see that there has been an accurate on-site inspection and diagnosis of the problem.

Typically you

HEPA Vacuum
Damp Wipe

and find and fix the problem particle source

On 2017-03-19 by Anonymous

Hi .I have just spent 5 months of hell ripping up all carpets disposing of all my belongings clothes linens soft furnishings and actually having to gutt my home and then literally having to hose down my flat walls with a hose pipe and suck up with water with a vax wet an dry Hoover .

and then try and paint all walls with a mixture of pva and emulsion.to try to get rid of a massive influx of glass fibre dust which blew in through vents above all of my Windows through out my flat from old cavity wall insulation ,

minute particles you could see sparkling over everything and it drove me insane with itching all over and coughing and constantly battling to get rid of it all.

my landlords did not believe me and did nothing .then it took me having to see a doctor for them to call in a company who replaced the cavity wall insulation and arrived masked up and in protective suits to suck out the old stuff.nothing was done for me in the flat .

just a couple of men who went in and hoovered the carpet ( that was still there at the time) with an old conventional household Hoover!!!!! Then I was told all clear to move back in!!

..It's a housing association flat so I had no choice but to try to clean it myself as they are not willing to admit that it was a problem..I'm still itching when in there and am going to have to move in soon .my question is how could I have cleaned it better so there is none left as it's still sparkling in places after months of being soaked and the water sucked up and everything washed .

Oh by the way I cannot open the vwindows as it is still coming in from vents directly above it seems to be getting sucked in and you can see it on black plastic that I have put on Windows sills inside to check if it's still coming in .

On 2017-02-14 15:34:53.902623 by Anonymous

i found a bat of fiberglass left over for years under the suspended floor. there was many gaps in the floor at this very place that I have sealed. Problem is there are many other (plumbing) gaps in the floor and else so i am guessing particles find their way somewhere in tiny holes with the draught effect..

On 2017-02-13 by (mod) - old fiberglass insulation removed from the attic which left us with high level of particles floating in the air.

Nolan,

If there is a consistent and unusual level of airborne particles that would be odd - I would look for the source, perhaps starting by checking settled dust to see if the problem was you've missed an area of cleaning such as carpets; else there's a particle source to be found (check for damaged duct insulation, for example)

On 2017-02-13 by Nolan

i had old fiberglass insulation removed from the attic which left us with high level of particles floating in the air.

For months of constant floor/furniture cleaning, I still keep finding shinny glittery of silver sometimes red color particles. This is most noticeable when emptying the water bucket i can see that particles remaining.
while it does not all the characteristics of fiberglass .. what could this be ? thanks.

On 2017-01-13 by (mod) -

Good question, Lindsay - I don't know an authoritative answer but I suspect from having worked around fiberglass insulation that it's the larger particles that are so irritating to the skin and the smaller ones that are more likely to be inhaled deeply into the lung.

What confuses some people is that even after washing clothes and bathing vigorously some skin irritation may continue if you've had an acute exposure to fiberglass debris. I think that's because you've already irritated the skin by making micro lacerations.

If there is a high level of fiberglass dust indoors it makes sense to damp wipe and HEPA vacuum to clean the area.

While fresh air ventilation is generally good for diluting indoor air contaminants, if there is a significant dust-particle reservoir it makes sense to do some cleaning first rather than just blow the dust around.

I'm sorry that my referrals were dead in the water - that's disappointing.

On 2017-01-13 by Lindsay

I know that the tiniest (more risky) particles are rare from what you said - Would one get similar symptoms and skin irritation from those sized dust particles or just the larger ones? Would you know if either size are in your clothing/belongings from irritation or not necessarily?

In general - whether fiberglass count is high or average or low in a home or apt - is it better to have ventilation - open window - or does that just blow it around?

Baxter rand Wayne didn't get back to me, Flappan doesn't do it, and EMSL is not offering much. Any other recommendations?

Thanks again!

On 2017-01-09 by (mod) -

Not necessarily fiberglass.

And yes I always find at least a few fiberglass fragments along with other common house-dust particles in most indoor building dust samples.

On 2017-01-09 by Lindsay

Got it, thanks. To the second part of my question (re: looking at dust with a flashlight in dark) - If you see pieces of dust that shine/glitter (when you hold the light a certain way and look very closely), is that always fiberglass dust? Is this a reliable method of gauging it? Is it normal to see some in dusty areas, on clothing, and on the back of a TV or computer screen?

Thanks Again!

On 2017-01-09 by (mod) -

Of course we both understand that I cannot inspect your home by e- text, and that an expert on site will always find things that neither you nor I were considering.

With that apology stated I suspect that the total volume of insulation that was handled ripped and stuffed going around electrical outlets was trivial.

However my opinion is it was not the most effective way to insulate in those spots because it's really tough to stuff in a reasonable amount of insulation into a wall with that method. Better would have been to use a fire rated insulating foam spray.

On 2017-01-09 Lindsay

Addendum - Someone had suggested turning the lights out at night and going through my apartment with a flashlight. I just did so. I am finding glittering pieces - particularly on the back of my TV. I just saw "one glitter" on my couch. It is also interspersed with some of the dust on a shelf that hasn't been dusted in a while.

I know that some fabrics naturally have a glitter - but I am seeing it on one sweatshirt (which sat out to dry) and a tiny bit on some clothing. Is this a reliable method?

Are my findings typical? Is there a way for met to gauge what would be above normal? Are these glittery pieces that become visible with the flashlight typically the dangerous, tiny type of fiberglass?

Thanks for all of your knowledge and expertise. Two more quick questions:

-In addition to the issue described with the insulation in the PTAC sleeve....

When I first moved in a few months ago, they needed to insulate my outlets. The worker came up with a yellow fiberglass roll and tore off pieces like cotton candy - no protective gear.

I was home both times. Based on your last response, would this type of mechanical damage be of concern? (I did get a piece lodged in my skin at that time - I didn't know what it was back then.)

-It sounds as if you think the light tapping and taping recently done in the heating/ac sleeves would not have created dust (I had been concerned that it might have gotten into the blower). I have just noticed a tiny rash on my knee which is now concerning me. I have reached out to the labs you listed.

Until I get a response, are thee any signals or things that I can look for in my apartment to identify whether fiberglass dust has gotten into my furniture, clothing, belongings?

Thank you.

On 2017-01-05 by (mod) -

Lindsay

The fiberglass conditions that produce high levels of small particles in cases I've seen are not specifically age but rather mechanical damage such as having been walked-on in an attic floor.

On 2017-01-05 by Lindsay

Thank you very much. This is such helpful information.

There is typical pink fiberglass (could be up to 8 or 10 years old) in the sleeve under and around my two heating a/c units (PTAC/HVAC in an apartment unit in a large tower). The insulation was never sealed/taped up and was exposed under the units. There is also cold air felt pulling in a bit through the sleeve. I am wondering a few things:

-Could there be breakdown (with the age of the fiberglass and exposure to the hot/cold), and could the smallest type of dust particles have come from this and could they have floated directly into my apartment?

-We sealed up the larger unit and only part of the smaller one recently. Could lightly touching the fiberglass insulation with a hand while taping it back create the dangerous kind of dust and send it off into the air (it was somewhat enclosed in the sleeve - but could have floated forward where the unit was wide open with the front cover off).

-If the wind or our touching created the dangerous kind of dust and it settled on the floor in front of the sleeves, could it now be pulled up into the a/c heating unit blower on air intake? (The units have fiberglass filters at the bottom, but my understanding is that those filters don't capture small fiberglass particles).

-Would there be a way of knowing if my furniture/belongings have been contaminated with fiberglass dust?

Thank you very much!

Since it is old and exposed to hot and cold air, could tiny

On 2017-01-05 by (mod) -

Lindasy:

After decades of field investigation and forensic lab work, with exception of a few pro-bono or research assignments, I have retired from field work and also from forensic laboratory analysis work to concentrate full time on pure research and writing for InspectApedia.com.

At https://inspectapedia.com we provide extensive free public information about building & indoor environment troubleshooting & repairs. We also very much welcome questions, critique, content suggestions concerning those topics.

You are also welcome to send me specific questions, suggestions, photos, reports by email, and I'll be glad to comment as helpfully as I can.

Environmental Test Labs:

For environmental or forensic investigative support and lab work, you can use any forensic lab provided you first check that their area of expertise matches your needs.

For strange particle analysis, building dust analysis, fiberglass particle screening, mold contaminant screening contact these expert forensic microscopists

Daniel Baxter (dbaxter@san.rr.com) or

Larry Wayne (lew@forensica.com)

For mold or general environmental dust samples also contact our backup

Susan Flappan
11020 W. 122nd St.
Overland Park KS 66213
913 322 2237. toll free number of 866 225 MOLD
http://moldetect.com/
sflappan@moldetect.com

EMS lab is a very large and competent network of labs offering a wide range of services
http://www.emlab.com

InspectAPedia.com is an independent publisher of building, environmental, and forensic inspection, diagnosis, and repair information for the public - we have no business nor financial connection with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website.

On 2017-01-05 by Lindsay

Is there a lab where one can send fabrics or dust samples if there is concern about fiberglass dust contamination?

On 2016-12-04 by Jaine

Please excuse my typo. I was asking should we be using masks?

I have been working for a emergency restoration company for over 2 months but I strictly do fire mitigation. I've had to handle wet/dry insulation that has fallen and been thrown around fire fighting crews, inspectors, homeowners, etc. we recently started on a house built in the 60s or 70s where the kitchen ceiling had to be torn out.

My crew had to remove any white blown insulation that could be contaminated by smoke or moldering. I noticed at the end of the day where the sun was shining through in the windows you could see sparkles floating with dust. my face was also beginning to itch and burn.

I now have broke out with painful hard red sores that are itchy and hot to the touch on upper body and my chin. My questions are could my symptoms be caused by fragmented fiberglass and she we be using masks?

On 2015-11-25 by (mod) - An ordinary vacuum cleaner will actually increase the level of very small airborne particles, look for HEPA vacuum cleaners

Jake:

An ordinary vacuum cleaner will actually increase the level of very small airborne particles, unless the vac

1. is HEPA rated
andj
2. has no significant air leaks

I've never heard of CPA -rated vacuuming or vacuum cleaners and could not find a reference to such a device. Maybe someone mis-spoke, or perhaps a reader who has heard of such a system will use our page bottom CONTACT link to give us a hint.

All homes I've ever tested had some detectable level of fiberglass. It would be a conceptual error and a financial one to seek a "fiberglass-free" home.

...

Continue reading at FIBERGLASS FRAGMENT HAZARDS in AIR or DUST - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Articles on Fiberglass Hazards in Buildings

• FIBERGLASS HAZARDS - home
  • AIR FILTERS, FIBERGLASS PARTICLES
  • DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS
  • FIBERGLASS DETECTION in BUILDING AIR & DUST
  • FIBERGLASS ENVIRO-SCARE
  • FIBERGLASS FRAGMENT HAZARDS in AIR or DUST
  • FIBERGLASS HAZARD RESEARCH
  • FIBERGLASS INSULATION EXPOSURE LIMITS
  • FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST
  • FIBERGLASS REINFORCED PLASTICS
  • FIBERGLASS SHEDDING from MATTRESSES
  • FORMALDEHYDE in FIBERGLASS INSULATION
• FIBERGLASS HVAC DUCTS
• MORGELLONS SYNDROME

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