some recessed lighting is absolutely horrendous in design
have notice some that are ic rated (supposedly okay to come in contact with insulation) yet they have: - holes in the housing (fiberglass dust, carcinogenic, from the attic can pass right through them, as well as other types of harmful to human dust which accumulates in attics) - fiberglass placed INSIDE the housing (exposed to the interior of the home) by the manufacturer
few would cut a hole in their ceilings to allow air flow from the attic to enter the house, yet this is what is done when some recessed lights are installed
supposedly even the air tight recessed housings are not 100% air tight between the living area and the attic
Should there not be a vapour barrier anywhere there is thermal insulation, such as the ceiling under an attic? Even IC-rated devices do not provide a vapour barrier, but are supposed to be compatible with one when properly installed. (Possibly you need to get a specific vapour barrier that matches the fixture.) The vapour barrier would keep insulation where it belongs.
Having said that, currently legal insulation is not ("yet" you might add) officially recognized to be carcinogenic. Current code cannot protect us from hazards that are not yet identified and accepted as such by authorities. Not to say that I much like recessed lights.
Some guy with a microscope says 70% of our indoor household dust is made up of human body dander and lint's from our clothes, furniture, etc.... ever wonder what that other 30% of the dust is made out of.
You claim that fiberglas dust is carcinogenic. Prove it. I've not yet seen any proof of it. Nor have the regulatory agencies. If it were proven, you would see companies like Owens Corning or Johns Mansfield disintegrating rapidly (like the asbestos industry did), yet they have not.
Until we actually know that fiberglas dust is carcinogenic, please refrain from spreading rumors.
Let me tell you a dirty (bad pun) little secret. The rest of the house is not 100% air tight either. And that's a good thing, otherwise you would suffocate, and the humidity would ruin the house. Examples: Every electrical outlet and switch is not airtight. If the walls are stuffed with fiberglas (as they usually are for exterior walls, sometimes also for interior walls), you have little leaks right there, and some fiberglas dust will come in. Same with ceiling light fixture outlets (which will usually be in contact with the fiberglas insulation in the attic). Same with little cracks around each window or door. Not to mention nail holes: If you hang a picture, and then remove it and leave a little nail hole behind, there is another leak. Your water heater is insulated, quite possibly with a fiberglas blanket, and its outer shell isn't airtight either.
Clearly, fiberglas dust is not to be taken lightly. Putting a sensible amount of effort into sealing it is a good idea.
If you feel strongly that you want to live without any fiberglas, then please move to a house that is insulated without fiberglas. In the meantime, spreading paranoia and annoying others is not useful.
The carcinogenic nature of fiberglass insulation is debatable. At most it is slight for those who work with it on regular bases. That comes from someone who has been fighting cancer for over 30 years and 30 years ago was told I had a 10% chance of making it 5 years. Don't over do it. Worry about the real stuff, not the minimal issues. Consider how many people die from sun or tobacco exposure compared to those who may have died of fiberglass exposure. My issue was sun exposure and I avoid it, but I don't stop my life because of it. I still enjoy rowing, running, bike riding etc.
Now if you want to put me on your "stick your fingers in your ears" list, go ahead. It won't hurt me.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.