Health aspects and disposal

Mineral wool can shed thin fibres which can cause mechanical irritation of the skin, the eyes, and the respiratory tract. If the fibres are long and thin and persistent in the body, cancer can be induced. This applies to mineral wool produced before 1996. Since then a switch has been made to products which are classified as safe.

If mineral wool is removed undamaged it can be re-used. This does not apply to material produced before 1996, as artificial mineral fibres older than that date are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic to embryos.

After use, mineral wool is disposed of at a landfill; material that has been produced after 1996 can be treated as non-hazardous.