Health hazards of thermal insulation products

Substances used for thermal insulation are listed. Known health hazards associated with alternatives to asbestos are reviewed, together with a summary of published research findings. The difficulties of obtaining adequate environmental exposure data in insulation workers are stressed. It is pointed out that any durable fibre having a diameter less than 0.5 µm and a length greater than 10 µm should be regarded as a possible cause of mesothelioma until proved otherwise