Is fiberglass harmful to humans?

Some friends often come into contact with glass fiber at work because of the special nature of their work. However, many people do not actually understand what fiberglass is, nor do they know whether fiberglass can cause harm to the human body. In fact, for people with healthy heart and lungs, frequent contact with fiberglass can be harmful. The most important manifestation is in lung function.

In addition, chest X-rays of workers who were exposed to bleaching earth fibers, ophioglosseous stone, and sepiolite showed atypical shadows, and lung biopsy showed changes such as bronchiolitis, reticular fibrosis, and fibrous foci. Skin hazards:

The degree of skin damage varies depending on the fiber diameter and surface roughness. It is currently recognized that fibers with a diameter exceeding 5μm will have a significant irritating effect. A small number of workers who come into contact with glass fiber and rock wool have developed skin allergies, but so far it has not been confirmed that these fibers themselves are allergens.

Hazards to eyes and mucous membranes:

Workers who come into contact with fiberglass may suffer from conjunctivitis and keratitis. In severe cases, corneal opacity and local abscesses may be seen. Fibers with a diameter of less than 3 μm can be flushed out from the patient's eye. Pathological examination of the patient's eyeballs showed proliferation of corneal epithelial cells and increased mucin content in the conjunctival fluid, indicating mechanical stimulation. Animal experiments have confirmed similar pathological changes.

Experiments have shown that when the fiber particle size and length are similar, asbestos substitutes can also produce toxicity and carcinogenicity similar to asbestos.

Asbestos substitute dust has certain biological harmful effects on humans and animals. Although its biological activity and pathological effects are not as great as asbestos, the harm caused by its large-scale production and use as an asbestos substitute cannot be ignored. 3.

Because the biological effects of asbestos substitutes are similar to those of asbestos, but the severity of their hazards is far less than that of asbestos, and their behavior, transfer, and elimination in the human body are similar to those of asbestos, their carcinogenic mechanisms are also similar. The occurrence of fibrogenic and carcinogenic effects must be based on the accumulation of a sufficient number of fibers in the tissues. Therefore, reducing exposure is the fundamental measure to prevent and control occupational hazards of asbestos substitutes.

The main protective measures are: Sealing dust sources: mainly sealing production machinery. Overall and partial. Ventilation and dust removal: Install local exhaust equipment in areas that must be open to collect and discharge fiber dust.

Wet operation: Pre-wetting the material or spraying it with water can greatly reduce the amount of dust generated. Personal protection: When other measures do not meet the requirements or cannot be taken, wear appropriate dust masks and protective clothing.