Are fiberglass chopsticks harmful to the body and cause cancer? The truth is...

The scene in the TV series "My Fair Princess" where Ziwei was pricked on the finger by Rong Mama with a needle is probably a childhood nightmare for many people born in the 1990s. What is it like to be pricked by a needle? Maybe not everyone has experienced it, but there is something in life that, if pricked by it, may be more painful than 1,000 needles - this thing is fiberglass.

Many people on the Internet have talked about the harm they have suffered after accidentally touching fiberglass: it pricked their hands, it itched and hurt;

The picture comes from the Internet

I tried to stick it on several times but it still didn't stick cleanly;

The picture comes from the Internet

Some people also say that umbrellas, chopsticks, mosquito net frames, kite frames, etc. in daily life may be made of fiberglass, so don't use them anymore...

The picture comes from the Internet

What exactly is glass fiber? What are its effects on the human body? Are daily necessities that contain glass fiber really no longer usable? Today, let's take a look at this article to clarify it for you~

What is Fiberglass

Fiberglass was first commercially synthesized in the 1930s. It is an inorganic non-metallic material with excellent performance. The diameter of a single filament ranges from a few microns to more than twenty microns, and the thinnest can be up to one twentieth of a hair.

Glass fiber has a lot of freedom in product design. It can be woven and spun like other silk materials, and hundreds or even thousands of single filaments can be combined into a bundle of fiber strands. Glass fiber has good insulation, strong heat resistance, good corrosion resistance, and high mechanical strength, but it also has the disadvantages of being brittle and having poor wear resistance.

Fiberglass. Copyrighted images from the gallery. Reproduction may lead to copyright disputes.

The most common application of glass fiber is compounding with resin materials. It is made of resin as the matrix and glass fiber as the reinforcing material, commonly known as FRP.

Compared with traditional metal composite materials, FRP has lower density, higher strength and better corrosion resistance. At the same time, the performance of its different parts can be designed according to needs. Therefore, it has a place in fields ranging from construction materials, furniture and sanitary ware to energy and transportation.

In some special fields, glass fiber also occupies an indispensable position.

In petrochemical and some heavy industrial production environments, employees are often faced with the threat of high-temperature material splashing, mechanical injuries and even fire. Adding glass fiber to textiles can greatly improve the fabric's cut resistance, anti-static and heat-resistant flame retardant properties by utilizing its advantages, such as special fire-fighting clothing, cut-resistant gloves, etc.

In nuclear protection, glass fiber can be made into glass fiber composite thermal neutron protective clothing due to its good absorption ability for thermal neutrons, which effectively reduces harm to the human body; combined with its insulating properties, it can also be used to make insulating materials for detector cables in nuclear reactors.

What are the effects of glass fiber on the human body?

After talking about the advantages of fiberglass, let’s take a look at the problems of fiberglass.

Due to the brittle nature of glass fibers, they will break into shorter fiber fragments. According to long-term experiments by the World Health Organization and other organizations, fibers with a diameter less than 3 microns and an aspect ratio greater than 5:1 can be inhaled deep into the human lungs. As mentioned at the beginning, the diameter of commonly used glass fibers is generally greater than 3 microns, so there is no need to worry too much about the harm to the lungs.

Research on the in vivo dissolution of glass fibers shows that the microcracks on the surface of glass fibers during processing will continue to expand and deepen under the erosion of weakly alkaline lung fluids, increasing its surface area, reducing the strength of the glass fibers, and thus accelerating its degradation. Studies have shown that glass fibers will completely dissolve in the lungs within 1.2 to 3 months.

According to previous research papers, long-term exposure (for more than one year) of rats and mice to air containing high concentrations of glass fibers (more than 100 times that of the production environment) had no significant effect on the incidence of lung fibrosis and tumors. Lung fibrosis was only found when glass fibers were implanted in the pleura of animals. The article also mentioned that health surveys of workers in the glass fiber industry in Europe, the United States, and my country in the last century did not find a significant increase in the incidence of diseases such as pneumoconiosis, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis, but did find that the lung function of the above workers was lower than that of the general population.

Although fiberglass itself is not life-threatening, direct contact with it can cause strong irritation to the skin and eyes, and inhalation of dust particles containing fiberglass may irritate the nose, trachea, throat, etc. Symptoms of irritation are usually non-specific and temporary, and may include itching, coughing, or wheezing. Large amounts of exposure to airborne fiberglass may aggravate existing asthma or bronchitis-like diseases. Generally speaking, the symptoms will subside on their own when the exposed person stays away from the source of fiberglass for a period of time.

Common sayings about fiberglass

1. Does fiberglass cause cancer?

Some comparisons need to be made here between fiberglass and asbestos.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral with properties similar to glass fiber. It is heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and wear-resistant. It is widely used in construction, insulation, and sealing materials.

Asbestos rock. Copyright image. Reproduction may cause copyright disputes.

However, a single asbestos fiber can continue to split into submicron-sized particles along the axial direction. The tiny asbestos particles suspended in the air will be inhaled deep into the respiratory tract and reach the alveoli. Due to the stable chemical structure of asbestos, once inhaled into the human body, it can exist in the physiological fluid environment of the lungs for about 300 years, that is, it will accompany you for life.

If you are in an environment with floating asbestos particles for a long time, the hard and sharp asbestos fibers will accumulate in your lungs and easily pierce the lung tissue, causing inflammation, tissue fibrosis and even various cancers. Currently, due to the serious harm caused by asbestos, its use has been banned or restricted in many countries and regions around the world.

In comparison, there is currently no clear evidence that glass fiber is carcinogenic like asbestos fiber. However, its irritation to human skin cannot be ignored, and caution should be exercised when using related products.

2. Can daily necessities such as chopsticks and mosquito net frames containing fiberglass still be used?

Can be used.

In the current products on the market, glass fibers are usually fixed inside the resin material to play a reinforcing role. Under normal use, the glass fibers will be wrapped and firmly bonded by the resin and will not come out of the material to cause harm to the human body.

When selecting and using related products, you should choose regular brand products, because regular products will undergo multiple safety tests before entering the market, and the safety of glass fiber products that have passed the tests is guaranteed.

However, it is recommended to use less if there are people with sensitive skin or infants at home.

What should I do if I am injured by fiberglass?

The most important thing is to take precautions before they happen and fully understand whether the operations you are about to perform will involve contact with fiberglass.

If you do need to contact, the first thing to do is to reduce the exposure area of ​​your skin. Be sure to cover all exposed skin with long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Always wear goggles and appropriate work gloves during the operation, and wear a dust mask to protect the throat and lungs. After the work is completed, be sure to wash your hands and face thoroughly, and wash the used clothes and protective equipment separately. Do not throw clothes in living areas such as sofas.

If you have been injured by fiberglass accidentally, such as piercing the skin of your hand, the following are some solutions that can be found for your reference:

If you develop a rash and itching after contact with fiberglass, do not rub or scratch the area. Immediately wash the exposed area with warm water and mild soap and wipe with a towel to remove fiberglass from your skin.

If you can clearly see fiberglass in your skin, clean the area and use a small piece of tape on the corresponding skin area to pull out the fragments with the tape. Also take a shower as soon as possible to wash off other possible fiberglass residues on your skin.

The practices of Zhihu netizens may bring some inspiration to everyone:

References

[1] Baidu Encyclopedia - Glass Fiber: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E7%8E%BB%E7%92%83%E7%BA%A4%E7%BB%B4/1667820

[2] Hou Yanna, Shen Yi, Cai Yongfeng. Research progress on synthesis mechanism and application of glass fiber composites[J]. Guangzhou Chemical Industry, 2020, 48(20): 20-22.

[3] Song Chuanjiang, Wang Hu. Progress in engineering applications of glass fiber reinforced composites[J]. China Plastics, 2015, 29(3): 9-15.

[4] Jiang Liyun, Yan Xuefeng. Application of glass fiber in safety and protective textiles[J]. Glass Fiber, 2017(6):37-40,43.

[5] Qin Yunqiao. International practices in asbestos hazard control[J]. Labor Protection, 2016(2):26-28.

[6] Chen Sa, Zhao Bin, Jia Xianjie. Research progress on crocidolite and health[J]. Health Soft Science, 2011, 25(5): 352-354.

[7] Wang Yongyi, Jiang Kang, Guo Jianzhong, et al. Dust hazards and control measures in the production process of asbestos-related products [J]. China Occupational Safety Science and Technology, 2012, 8(12): 156-160.

[8]Fiberglass|WashingtonStateDepartmentofHealth

https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/air-quality/indoor-air/fiberglass

[9] International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC Monograph son the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans: Man-Made Vitreous Fibres, Vol. 81 (Lyon, France: WHO/IARC, 2002).

[10]https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/materials-handling/fiberglass-safety-health-concerns/

[11] Sun Keguang. New understanding of glass fiber safety[J]. Glass Fiber, 2005(3):28-32,34.

[12] Zeng Tianjuan. Artificial mineral fibers such as glass fiber and glass wool and human health [J]. Glass Fiber, 2002(4):8-15.

[13]IsFiberglassAHealthHazard?|OSHASafetyManuals(safetymanualosha.com)

https://www.safetymanualosha.com/is-fiberglass-a-health-hazard/

[14] Association of European Fiberglass Producers (APFE). Continuous glass fibers and human health [J]. Glass Fiber, 2002(2):36-39.

[15] Fiberglass – Environmental Health and Safety – Albert Einstein College of Medicine: https://www.einsteinmed.edu/administration/environmental-health-safety/industrial-hygiene/fiberglass.aspx/

[16] How to Remove Fiberglass from Skin: https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/how-to-remove-fiberglass-from-skin

[17]https://www.zhihu.com/question/34988195

Author: Cao Wangbei, Materials Engineer

Review丨Wang Wen, Associate Professor of Tianjin University of Technology, Environmental Toxicology Expert