Summary of Environmental and Health Impacts from Insulation Types.....

Type of insulation	Installation method(s)	R-value per inch (RSI/m)	Raw materials	Pollution from manufacture	IAQ impacts	Comments
Fiber insulation
Cellulose	loose fill, wet-spray, dense pack, stabilized	3.0 -3.7 (21-26)	newspaper, borates, ammonium sulfate	Negligible	Fibers & chemicals can be irritants, should be isolated from interior space	High recycled content, very low embodied energy
Fiberglass	batts, loose fill, stabilized, rigid board	2.2 -4.0 (15-28)	silica, sand, limestone, boron, PF resin, cullet	Air pollution from energy use	Fibers & chemicals can be irritants, should be isolated from interior space	New Miraflex fiber has no binder
Mineral wool	loose fill, batts	2.8-3.7 (19-26)	steel slag, PF natural rock	Air pollution from energy use	See fiberglass
Cotton	loose fill, batts	3.0-3.7 (21-26)	cotton & polyest. mill scraps	Negligible	Considered very safe	Fire retardant unknown
Perlite	loose fill	2.5-3.3 (17-23)	volcanic rock	Negligible	Some nuisance dust
Foam Insulation
Expanded polystyrene	rigid boards	3.6-4.4 (25-31)	fossil fuels, pentane	Pentane emissions contribute to smog	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities	Only non-HCFC foam board
Extruded polystyrene	rigid board	5.0 (35)	fossil fuels, HCFC-142b	Ozone depletion, global warming, energy use	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities	Only Amofoam- RCY has recycled content
Polyisocyanurate	foil-faced rigid boards	5.6-7.7 (39-53)	fossil fuels, HCFC-141b	Ozone depletion, global warming, energy use	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities
Phenolic	foil-faced rigid boards	8.0 (55)	fossil fuels, HCFC-141b	Ozone depletion, global warming, energy use	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities	Not currently manufactured in U.S.
Polyurethane	sprayed-in	5.8-6.8 (40-47)	fossil fuels, HCFC-141b	Ozone depletion, global warming, energy use	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities
Icynene	sprayed-in	4.3 (30)	fossil fuels	Negligible	Unknown, appears to be very safe	Doesn't harden, good air sealing

Air-Krete	sprayed-in	3.9 (27)	magnesium oxide from sea water		Considered very safe
Radiant barriers
Bubble pack	stapled to framing	*	aluminum, fossil fuels			Recycled PE foam in one product
Foil-faced paperboard	stapled, requires air space	*	aluminum, fossil fuels			Often high recycled content
Foil-faced polyethylene	stapled, requires air space	*	aluminum, fossil fuels			High recycled content
	* depends on installation
Sources: Manufacturers data, ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, 1993, Environmental Building News