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Man-Made Mineral Fibres (MMMF) / Rock Wool / Loft Insulation
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Posted By Garry Smith
Just something that has been bugging me for quite a while. With Rock wool (Loft Insulation) what are the health effects of being exposed to it?
As it seems to be nasty stuff, if you stick your hand in it, it itches for hours and causes a rash, spend any length of time in the loft with it and you come away with a sore throat and a nasty cough that you can't shake for a few hours, and you can see all the fibres in the air if you take a torch with you!!
I know people laying the stuff or handling it are expected to wear gloves and masks but how many of us store items in the loft with this around us?
Is it going to be another asbestos and claim the lives of many people in the future???
any thoughts??
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Posted By SteveD-M
Garry
It has come up before if you search the HSE website on the subject.
Short extract to ease your mind...
the Secretary of State for the Environment made a statement in the House of Commons and issued a Press Release dated 1 December 1987 recording the Committee On Carcinogen's assessment of the risk to health from MMMF loft insulation, DIY installation and subsequent disturbance. As a result of the COC's work, the DoE Press Release was able to reassure householders that they need not be concerned about the presence of MMMF in their lofts, about installing it themselves or about doing DIY work in lofts insulated with MMMF. However, it recommended use of an appropriate mask for installation work, ie one conforming to BS 6016 or BS 2091 (see para 15), and the use of gloves when handling the material to avoid skin irritation.
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Ah well - if the Governemnt have issued a statement that's OK then -It will undoubtedly be accurate?
Anyone remember John Selwyn Gummer, at that time the Under-Secretary of State for Employment, telling the House of Commons on 28 July, 1983 that asbestos "is not a substance for which one can set a level below which there is no risk. We must therefore assume that a single fibre could do real damage which may not be seen for 20 years or more."
Now wasn't that a helpful statement?
(Apologies for the dripping sarcasm folks).
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Posted By SteveD-M
Ron
Your help and direction to the poster was what then?.....
This is precisley the reason some people don't post replies....
Put you handbag away...
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Really......how interesting.
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Garry, sorry to divert your thread. You asked for our thoughts, and I'm happy to give you mine.
In a nutshell, Government statements are not always factual, and do not always stand the test of time. I offered the asbestos item as a 'contrast and compare' viewpoint.
Perhaps sometimes some of us forget this is a Discussion Forum?
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