#MMVF - Mineral wool health risks likely to be raised by new MEPs

Newly elected MEPs are being urged to raise awareness of the “potential hazards” of mineral wool, a building material commonly used throughout the construction trade.

Mineral wool is a type of thermal insulation made from rocks and minerals. After asbestos was banned in most countries in the 1990s Man-Made Vitreous Fibres (MMVF), as mineral wool is also called, effectively emerged as the replacement material.

But major doubts persist on the use of MMVF for building insulation.

That is why campaigners want the health threats posed by mineral wool to be high on the agenda of the new intake of MEPs who will soon be taking their seats in the European Parliament after the weekend's elections.

One ongoing problem is that little is known about the possible health risks of MMVF and that, most importantly, includes those in the construction industry and also the general public.

In order to rectify this, MEPs on relevant parliamentary committees will be targeted when the parliament resumes after the European elections.The aim is to raise awareness about the issue and press for action.

New MEPs will be asked to push for health and safety legislation and also introduce adequate product labelling.

After initially being classified in the past by the World Health Organization and International Agency on the Research on Cancer as carcinogenic and hazardous to humans, mineral wool was declassified as a carcinogenic in 2002. However, it has now emerged that the product as tested was different from that which is commercially available, in that an important ‘binder’ had been removed. It is claimed the product was not tested as it is actually sold and used and there are now calls for the European Chemicals Agency (ECA), based in Helsinki, to carry out retesting on the product as sold. 

Campaigners say there is “mounting medical evidence” which points to the health risks associated from handling MMVF.

They want MEPs, both those returning to parliament and new ones, to back demands for the re-testing of mineral wool, improved legislation to provide improved protection for workers exposed to the substance and more prominent labelling on the product.

Compulsory protective gear to protect lungs and skin are among the measures being demanded as well as greatly increased education for workers about the potential health hazards of mineral wool.

It is argued that mineral wool, whether sold through the trade, or to consumers, must carry warnings, displayed prominently on all packaging, in a manner similar to that seen on alcohol or cigarette packaging.

Leading lung health expert, Dr Marjoleine Drent, who is among those pressing for action, has repeatedly voiced her concerns.

She told this website, “The effects of the fibres of glass wool and stone wool can be compared to those of asbestos.”

Dr Drent added: “In the past we did not know asbestos was very dangerous. The results of the effects of fibres in glass wool and mineral wool are only being seen right now, so we must deal with it carefully.The point is that these substances are harmful, but people do not realise it sufficiently, and that is something we have to worry about. It is too easily accepted that ‘we have a replacement for asbestos’. But the replacement may not be as good as we thought it was at the beginning, there is insufficient attention given to this fact.”

The health threats posed by mineral wool are increasingly coming to public attention. With the issue having gone largely unchecked new MEPs will be asked to help avoid a repeat of the asbestos tragedy and take Europe-wide action to protect both home-owners and workers from the risks.

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