According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, fiberglass and other synthetic vitreous fibers are taking the place of asbestos for insulating buildings and homes due to the hazards of asbestos. Fiberglass consists of wool-based glass fibers and can control sound and temperature, regulating utility bills. It also carries health risks -- some minor, such as itching, and some major -- for weekend handymen and those who work with it regularly.
Description
Fiberglass can cause not just a sensation of itching, but redness and swelling of the skin, as well, according to the Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health. Lumps can form under the skin, called "fiberglass warts."
Cause
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, synthetic vitreous fibers fall into two categories -- filaments or wools. Manufactured as a wool, fiberglass's basis is glass, as its name suggests. The fibers themselves are, on average, 5 micrometers long and their length is usually three to five times their diameter. This means they can easily go airborne. They can contain calcium silicates, aluminum silicates, trace oxides or metals, depending on the manufacturer. The fibers can dust your skin, get in your eyes, and you can inhale them. Itching and irritation result when they dust your skin because of their synthetic properties. When they get under your skin, "fiberglass warts" can occur. According to the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, some people are more sensitive to the fibers than others.
Related Dangers
Although the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association states that coming in contact with fiberglass carries no risk of cancer or respiratory disease, the Association does concede that you might suffer "temporary" respiratory problems from breathing in the fibers. The Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health goes a bit further than that, warning of throat and lung irritation and lung disease for anyone exposed to the fibers long term. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also requires that anyone working with fiberglass must be warned that it can potentially cause cancer.
Prevention
The best way to avoid itching is not to let the fibers come in contact with your skin in the first place. If you must work with fiberglass, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association suggests that you leave it in its packaging until right before you are ready to install it. Wear clothing that covers your limbs, as well as gloves and a hood or head cover if you are placing it in the ceiling. Open the windows if weather permits or use fans to keep your work area well ventilated. Wash exposed areas of skin, such as your face and your hands, frequently with cold water. It will help keep your pores closed, according to the Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health, so the fibers can't get into them.
Remedies
If your precautions fail and your skin becomes red and inflamed and you begin itching, do not rub and scratch, warns the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. Place adhesive tape against your skin, sticky side down, and it will lift off the fibers when you peel it away. Shower and wash your clothing separately so the fibers can't infiltrate other items of your clothing or that of your family. If the irritation and itching sensation doesn't go away within a reasonable period of time, you should contact your physician.
