Summary Statement
Man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) - glass, ceramic, rockwool and slagwool - are used for heat and sound insulation, sometimes to replace asbestos. MMMF can release airborne respirable fibers during their production, use and removal. Ceramic fibers are made from alumina, silica, and other metal oxides. Rockwool and slagwool are made from molten rock. A report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, says refractory ceramic fibers and some glass fibers "possibly" cause cancer in people.
August 23, 2002
Man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) - glass, ceramic, and rockwool and slagwool - are used for heat and sound insulation sometimes to replace asbestos. Ceramic fibers are made from alumina, silica, and other metal oxides. Rockwool and slagwool are made from molten rock. A report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, says refractory ceramic fibers and some glass fibers "possibly" cause cancer in people.
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol81/
