Man-Made Fibers May Cause Cancer (Taken From "Impact on Construction Safety and Health", Volume XV, Number 2, September 1997, A Joint Publication of the Building & Construction Trades Department and CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training)

CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training

The man-made fibers are sometimes used as a "safe" replacement for asbestos. All kinds of asbestos can cause crippling lung diseases and cancers.

No one can be sure how safe MMMFs are. Some of them were produced more than 100 years ago, but they were not used much in construction until the 1970s. Many experts say it will take more time to see if work with these fibers makes workers sick. Asbestos diseases usually take 20 years or more to show up.

Studies have found that glasswool and ceramic fibers cause cancer in animals. And the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, says refractory ceramic fibers "possibly" cause cancer in people. (See http://www-cie.iarc.fr/htdocs/monographs/vol81/81.html )

It is best to be careful. The most dangerous fibers may be ones so small you can't see them. If you think you may be working with MMMFs, ask your employer. You may need to use respirators. If you need more information, contact the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH (1-800-356-4674, or www.cdc.gov/niosh), or OSHA (1-800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov).



This document appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent. eLCOSH is an information clearinghouse. eLCOSH and its sponsors are not responsible for the accuracy of information provided on this web site, nor for its use or misuse.

eLCOSH | CDC | NIOSH | Site Map | Search | Links | Help | Contact Us | Privacy Policy