Definition

• Green-Energy-Efficient-Homes.com describes insulation as the use of porous materials to limit the transfer of heat from one space to another, helping to keep rooms warm or cool.
  
  

Asbestos

• Asbestos, a common insulating mineral until the 1950s, causes lung and gastrointestinal cancers, according to Aerias Air Quality Sciences. Older homes may expose occupants to these serious conditions if they still contain asbestos.
  
  

Fiber Glass

• Aerias states that fiber glass, a woolly material made partly of spun glass, may cause skin allergies, cancer, or other reactions.
  
  

Vermiculite

• Vermiculite, a harmless natural mineral used for insulation until the 1990s, may pose dangers nonetheless. Green-Energy-Efficient-Homes.com explains that a principal source of vermiculite was found to be contaminated with asbestos.
  
  

Styrene

• Styrene, a plastic foam used in insulation, may cause respiratory problems, disorientation, liver damage, or reproductive side effects, according to Aerias.
  
  

Safer Insulation Materials

• Insulation materials that do not pose health risks generally fall into the category of natural or recycled substances such as cellulose, which is mostly recycled newspaper, cotton, or straw. Non-hazardous inorganic materials include Icynene and Air Krete foams.