Do test labs see or even look for very small fiberglass insulation fragments?
What about fiberglass particles? As we discuss in more detail in our fiberglass and asbestos IAQ articles some of the research on the possible hazards of airborne fiberglass is confusing because it asserts that the probable hazard of “large” fiberglass particles is low. What’s tricky is that hygienists or others who check indoor air or dust for the level of fiberglass contamination, and even the labs which process these samples may examine and report particles only in the larger size range. That makes sense insofar as it’s apparent that large particles dominate fiberglass dust. But let’s consider just a tiny bit further. Fiberglass, particularly mechanically-damaged fiberglass insulation, say in a fiberglass-lined air duct which was mechanically cleaned, can break to release very small glass fragments, even in the 1u range and below. These particles are very hard to detect in the laboratory unless the lab is specifically looking for them. In fact, unless the laboratory uses a slide pre
