Where It Comes From
Making, cutting, installing, or removing fiberglass, rock/slag wool, or refractory ceramic fiber; aging/damaged insulation; demolition and furnace maintenance [1][2].
How You Are Exposed
Breathing dust during construction or DIY projects; fibers carried home on clothing; nearby building work or certain industrial activities [1][2].
Why It Matters
Can cause itching, sore throat, and cough; prolonged high workplace exposure can reduce lung function. Refractory ceramic fibers are reasonably anticipated to cause cancer (NTP) and possibly carcinogenic (IARC). Common insulation wools are not classifiable as carcinogenic [1][3][4].
Who Is at Risk
Insulation installers, HVAC and maintenance workers, foundry/ceramics and furnace workers, demolition/abatement crews; people with asthma or COPD [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Use wet methods and local exhaust; ventilate work areas; wear gloves, eye protection, and a NIOSH‑approved respirator for dusty tasks; clean with wet wipes/HEPA vacuum; change and launder work clothes separately [1][2].
References
- [1]ATSDR. ToxFAQs: Manmade Mineral Fibers (MMMF). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
- [2]CDC/NIOSH. Synthetic Vitreous Fibers (SVFs) Workplace Safety & Health Topic. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- [3]IARC Monographs, Volume 81: Man‑made Vitreous Fibres (2002). International Agency for Research on Cancer.
- [4]NTP, Report on Carcinogens: Refractory Ceramic Fibers. National Toxicology Program.