In the News - April 2009
Handle clothing with insulation fibers with caution; dispose of wind-blown insulation
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansans salvaging clothing after the Feb. 5 tornadoes
should use care in handling anything that may contain insulation fibers, said
Dr. Mary Warnock, director of the School of Human Environmental Sciences and
professor of apparel studies at the University of Arkansas.
Fiberglass, a common insulation material, can become embedded in fabrics and
is very difficult to remove. Fiberglass fibers can irritate the skin, eyes and
stomach. Fibers can also accumulate in the lungs and cause tissue changes.
Sherri Sanders, a White County agent for the University of Arkansas
Cooperative Extension Service, said that many tornado victims are at a loss
about how to salvage items that have become mixed with insulation.
"Most folks were just burning it on the other debris because after one
washing through the Laundromat they couldn't get the insulation out," Sanders
said.
"People can wash their clothing in a bathtub so the fibers that come out can
be flushed down the drain," Warnock said. "It's not foolproof. Some fibers may
remain."
If the garments are going into a washing machine, be sure to rinse the drum
thoroughly so the fibers don't work into future laundry loads.
"If you're washing, be sure to wear something similar to Playtex gloves to
keep the fibers from getting into your fingers," she said.
Using a mini-vacuum or a hand-vacuum can also help remove unwanted fibers,
Warnock said.
Another option is to have the items dry cleaned, especially if it's an
heirloom item that would be damaged by water. Warnock said to warn the dry
cleaner that there's fiberglass involved, so the cleaner can take appropriate
action to isolate the item or take other precautions to prevent shed fibers from
clinging to other clothing.
In many cases, the concentration of fibers may be too great to remove and the
garment should be discarded, she said.
Clothing and other fabrics with mold or mildew damage could be problematic
too, Warnock said. Repeated bleaching may not completely remove spores from
cotton and other fabrics, leaving the possibility of regrowth and contamination
of the whole home.
As for insulation that has been blown from a building by a storm -- dispose
of it, said Jason Saragian, a spokesman for Owens Corning, which makes building
materials, including insulation.
"We would recommend that insulation not be reused," he said. Even though
Owens Corning insulation is resistant to mold, "When it's wetted by various
sources, there's a risk that contaminants -- maybe organic contaminants -- could
be left in the insulation which could potentially lead to mold growth somewhere
down the road."
For more information on disaster recovery, please contact your county
extension agent or visit www.uaex.edu. The
Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
April 13, 2009
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialists
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187
ljames@uaex.edu
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