Are there safer alternatives to fiber glass?
While fiber glass manufacturers have responsibly tested their products for health and safety, the same cannot be said of all other insulation products. Cellulose insulation, for example, is made from shredded newspaper that is naturally flammable and must be treated with toxic, fire-retarding chemicals like boric acid. Fiber glass, made from sand and recycled glass, is naturally nonflammable. The public should also be concerned about the unknown risks associated with high exposures to cellulose installation. Despite repeated requests by scientists, unions and contractor groups for basic health effects testing of cellulose insulation, cellulose manufacturers have conducted no published study on the health effects of cellulose insulation. In fact, the cellulose insulation industry markets its products as “safe” and as an “environmentally friendly” alternative to fiber glass, despite a lack of testing. Yet, several studies by independent scientists have identified the potential for signif
