title: Do insulation products of man-made vitreous fibres still cause skin discomfort?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Man-made vitreous fibres (MMVFs) are used in products for insulation and as reinforcement in materials. Contamination of the skin may arise through direct or indirect contact, and from the deposition of airborne fibres. The scientific basis regarding the effects on skin of MMVFs dates from 1970-1980.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether currently used insulation MMVF products still cause skin discomfort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group interviews and structured interviews were performed among workers engaged in insulation tasks and among do-it-yourself consumers with a recent experience of MMVF products.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A majority of interviewees experienced skin discomfort when handling MMVF products. Complaints caused by traditional (yellow) glass fibre products were more severe than those caused by products of rock or slag wool fibres. The wrists, forearms, neck and face were the locations where the skin was most affected. The situations causing problems varied between occupational tasks, but working with the hands over the head or in narrow spaces were described as the worst situations. Building construction apprentices performed insulation tasks more often than senior workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMVF insulation products do still cause skin discomfort. Updated knowledge about people's experiences of work with such products should influence legislation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lundgren
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moberg
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lidén
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017640:Silicates / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017610:Calcium Compounds; D019016:Mineral Fibers; D017640:Silicates; C031293:calcium silicate
keywords: MMVF; focus group interviews; man-made mineral fibres; man-made vitreous fibres; mineral wool; skin irritant