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Can you leave insulation uncovered?

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Florence Hannon

HAMPTON — The recent building boom in the Seacoast area has been no secret. What may not be all that well-known, however, is the fact that the fiberglass insulation commonly used can be, in some cases, hazardous to one's health — and especially to the health of children. Particularly at risk may be children playing in attics or basements where fiberglass insulation has been left uncovered and exposed. Such fiberglass, which is wool-like insulation man-made from glass fibers, can be identified by its resemblance to pink cotton candy. Builders and homeowners often wedge the pink, fluffy fiberglass batting between exposed basement and attic beams, to contain heat in the main living quarters of the home. While most fiberglass insulation batting comes with one side that is covered and protected by a paper liner (for handling purposes), installers generally face the liner to the home's main "living area," i.e., the basement ceiling or attic floor, per installation specifications. As a result, the pink glasswool side of the insulation is left exposed to basement and attic spaces, with the expectation that these areas will be used for storage only. Such installation procedures are in accordance with area building codes, according to Hampton Building Inspector Kevin Schultz. These building codes are based on the belief that, if left undisturbed in unoccupied areas, fiberglass insulation poses little or no health threat. And organizations such as the American Lung Association and the New Hampshire Bureau of Health Risk Assessment agree on this point. "The American Lung Association states that fiberglass insulation is safe when properly installed," says Krysten Godfrey, manager of community relations for the American Lung Association (ALA) of New Hampshire. The ALA, in fact, states that fiberglass insulation effectively keeps homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer, controls noise, and saves energy and the need for energy sources. Dennis Penski, supervisor of the Risk Assessment Section of the N.H. Bureau of Health Risk Assessment, in Concord, agrees that "bound fiberglass in good condition poses little risk." Although all fiberglass insulation is labeled with cancer warnings (issued by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration), many hold that the risk exists only in the installation procedure, which releases so much fiberglass dust that installers need to wear protective clothing and air respirators. Once installed and left alone, however, the insulation batting is harmless, say some.

But what if the unoccupied areas become used and occupied? And what happens when the exposed fiberglass ages and degrades?

"Fiberglass insulation should never be left exposed in an occupied area, according to the American Lung Association," says ALA's Godfrey. "Exposed fiberglass insulation, once in the air, does cause respiratory reactions, such as dry, scratchy throat and coughing, as well as acting as a skin and eye irritant. This is not healthy. "And if the insulation does not have any protective covering or facing, it may cause irritation to anyone coming into direct contact with the glass fibers," adds Godfrey.

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She notes that some people, such as smokers and asthmatics, are more susceptible to reactions than others. Penski of the N.H. Bureau of Health Risk Assessment concurs. "Exposed fiberglass does get disturbed over time, clumps eventually fall down and particles get airborne. It will not remain 100 percent intact after installation. Then the fiberglass acts as a respiratory irritant and can cause respiratory problems, including bronchitis," he says. "Although new fiberglass is fairly inert, as fiberglass batting ages, it becomes particulated and gets in the air," says Dr. Mark Windt, head of Hampton's Center for Asthma, Allergy and Respiratory Disease, and a board member of the American Lung Association of New Hampshire. "Then it not only irritates the lungs, but can actually cut the skin and eyes." Dr. Windt speaks from experience, as he put himself through college working as an insulation installer. Debate continues as to whether the fiberglass shards can cause eventual lung cancer, although no definitive statement has been issued either way. The most recently published stance by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program is that the substance is, in all probability, carcinogenic at certain exposure levels. In the agency's Ninth Report on Carcinogens, published in January 2001, it states that the smaller-diameter glasswool fibers (which are invisible to the naked eye) have the ability to penetrate and become trapped in the lungs' alveoli. Based on numerous animal studies, the substance is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," able to cause eventual lung cancer. However, the National Academy of Sciences reported last year that the glass fibers do not appear to increase risk of respiratory system cancer. A 1999 report entitled, "A Risk Assessment for Exposure to Glass Wool," prepared by Harvard and Brooklyn College researchers, asserted that fiberglass poses a far smaller cancer risk than asbestos. But in the report's summation, the researchers noted that in the last 20 years, some fiber manufacturers have made fluffier products, resulting in higher fiber counts and increased exposure. "We urge the industry to monitor this trend, which can increase concentrations and exposures, and make efforts to reverse the trend," warns the report, which was published in the Journal of Respiratory Toxicology and Pharmacology. Because allowing people, especially children, to be around exposed fiberglass is a health gamble, the N.H. Bureau of Health Risk Assessment recommends sealing fiberglass insulation, perhaps by staple-gunning sheeting around it. "Although we have no formal recommendation or policy regarding fiberglass insulation, we do believe it is prudent to seal the material found in habitable areas with a barrier so that none of it can become airborne," says Penski. "A permeable barrier won't trap moisture in the insulation, which could lead to mold growth and allergies."

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The Town of Hampton has stronger policies on the subject in its building codes. According to Schultz, the building inspector, building codes permit fiberglass insulation to be exposed in non-occupied areas that are used for storage only, such as attics. However, building regulations become much stricter for areas that are used as playrooms, offices, laundry areas or other frequently occupied space. "Once a basement is being used, a whole different set of criteria apply," says Schultz. "Children can yank at insulation and even eat it. It cannot be left exposed. At the bare minimum, the insulation should be sealed with a polymembrane, such as plastic sheeting, which can be found at home improvement stores. If the room will get much use, it needs to be inspected by the town and proper finishing procedures followed, such as installing paneling or sheetrocking around the insulation." The ALA warns that exposed paper or foil insulation coverings can present fire hazards and that coverings should be chosen with this in mind. Plywood flooring in attics can also retain fiberglass dust. At the very least, children should be monitored when playing around exposed fiberglass insulation. Boisterous games can disturb the product, and large shards can irritate and injure the skin and eyes. Since fiberglass shards need to be quickly rinsed off and not rubbed, uninformed children may imbed the glass particles in their skin or eyes by scratching or rubbing. "Anyone exposed to fiberglass needs to rinse his or her skin with soap and warm, running water, and eyes need to be flushed with water," says ALA's Godfrey. According to some sources, cellulose insulation could be a safer alternative, although the dustiness of this insulation also presents health concerns. Cellulose insulation, which is made from recycled newspapers, is usually less expensive than fiberglass. For instructions on safe installation procedures of fiberglass insulation, contact the American Lung Association of New Hampshire at 1-800-835-8647.

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