Fiberglass contamination information sheet

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document How to tell whether your house is contaminated with fiberglass Page 1 of 3

I

a''

information network Health House News Basics Victims Resources

Ways to find out whether your house has fiberglass contamination B/ Robert Horow^ A fiberglass contaminated home is more common than you might think.

The widespread use of fiberglass insulation and exposed-fiberglass-llned ducts in modem-particularly American-construction is sowing the seeds for an environmental health catastrophe. Overall shoddy construction standards on today's mass-produced homes further increase the odds that there is some amount of fiberglass in your home environment..

Many people will never notice a small amount of fiberglass in their living space. But that same amount could trigger an intense allergy-like reaction in a person with a damaged immune system. With moderate amounts of fiberglass in the living space, nearly all occupants become progressively ill over a period of weeks or months. When large amounts of fiberglass are present in the home, even the most robust individuals become noticeably ill within a few days or weeks.

The signs of fiberglass poisoning in your home are straightforward and obvious to even the mildly observant person:

• Pervasive dustiness, even after repeated cleanings • Glass-like dust which glitters when struck by light. • Most or all individuals in the home, including pets, have strange illnesses which do not respond to conventional treatments, especially skin and breathing ailments • III individuals feel better when out of the house for extended periods of time. • Individuals feel worse when the heating or air conditioning is on. • Strange stains around or under HVAC output areas.

If some or all of these symptoms are present, then it's time to do some sleuthing.

If you are convinced that your health woes are worse when the heating or air conditioning is on, buy some wide, clear cellophane tape. Partially cover the registers of the heating/ac system, then run it for several hours. If the tape becomes covered with glassy dust, then you may have found the source of your problems.

Another quick test is to shine a strong flashlight in the dark. If you observe glimmering fiber-like particles, you have more reason to continue sleuthing.

To find out more about what is coming out of the ducts, you may hire an industrial hygienist to run some

http://www.sustainableenterprises.coin/fin/House/sleuthing.htm 3/28/02

NYC-WTC_000142595