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Asked by: Barbaro Gerber
home and garden indoor environmental qualityIs cellulose insulation dangerous to breathe?
Last Updated: 16th April, 2020
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Similarly, is cellulose insulation dangerous?
Cellulose insulation is safe. It is made of paper, but the chemical treatment provides it with permanent fire resistance. There's been static generated by the fiberglass industry warning that cellulose could burn. But independent testing confirms it's safe and cellulose is approved by all building codes.
Beside above, what happens if you breathe in too much insulation? The nature of the insulation means its fibres can come loose and stick to your skin, and to your nose, mouth and eyes. It can also irritate your lungs if you inhale a lot of it, causing coughing and discomfort for a couple of days after.
Similarly, is blown in insulation bad for your lungs?
It is possible that the material can produce harmful off-gassing from the ink contained in the newspapers, but insulation is generally contained in sealed locations, so this is not likely to be a health concern. As is true with fiberglass, protect your lungs with a breathing mask when handling cellulose insulation.
Does cellulose insulation have an odor?
Have your potential insulation installer give you a cellulose sample in a baggie and take a whiff: it should be odorless. It might smell like newspaper a bit because that is what it is. Sit with the sample for a day or two and see if the smell bothers you, and if it goes away.