Short Answer: If you accidentally eat fiberglass, you may experience internal bleeding, stomach irritation, intestinal blockage, and respiratory distress, as the sharp fibers can damage your body. You should seek medical attention and drink water to flush out the fibers.
Fiberglass is a composite material made from extremely fine fibers of glass.
Manufacturers make it by melting glass and drawing it into strands.
These glass fibers are typically woven into a fabric-like mat or used as a reinforcement material in a plastic resin matrix.
The resulting composite material combines the strength and durability of glass with the flexibility and moldability of plastic.
Fiberglass is widely used in industries ranging from construction to aerospace for its durability, resistance to corrosion, and lightweight properties.
If you accidentally eat fiberglass, you may experience serious health problems, such as internal bleeding, stomach irritation, intestinal blockage, and respiratory distress.
This is because the sharp fibers in fiberglass can penetrate and damage different parts of your body, such as your mouth, throat, stomach, intestines, and lungs.
Fiberglass fibers can also irritate the lining of your digestive and respiratory systems, causing inflammation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
It is quite uncommon to eat fiberglass due to its unpleasant texture and taste.
However, accidental ingestion may occur if you handle fiberglass insulation without proper protection or if you mistake it for cotton candy or other edible substances.
You can prevent or reduce the harmful effects of eating fiberglass by seeking immediate medical attention and following the advice of your doctor.
Do not induce vomiting or take laxatives, as this may worsen the situation.
Instead, drink plenty of water to flush out the fibers and soothe your throat and stomach.
To avoid accidental eating of fiberglass, you should always wear goggles, a dust mask, gloves, and long sleeves when working with fiberglass insulation or other products that contain fiberglass.
You should also wash your hands and clothes thoroughly after exposure and rinse the washing machine to remove any remaining fibers.
Additionally, you should store fiberglass products away from food and children and label them clearly to avoid confusion.
Read Next
Finally, remember, fiberglass is a useful material for many applications, but it is not edible and can cause serious harm if ingested.
Therefore, you should always handle it with care and caution and seek medical help if you swallow it.
