Fiberglass in and of itself is not toxic. I could eat a meal off of the middle of a sheet of glass cloth.

Fiberglass by itself is not complete. You need some kind of resin matrix like polyester, vinylester, or epoxy to make the fiberglass fibers bond together and to the substrate to make fiberglass stiff.

Polyester and vinylesters contain many VOC's which are Not Good to breathe. Epoxies are generally low-odor. Their inhalation danger is debatable. It is, however, slightly caustic, and long-term use can cause skin irritation, rashes, and blistering.

Sanding fiberglass produces tiny fibers that can be inhaled and are Not Good for your lungs. Similarly for the tiny fragments of resin that are created.

Wear a long-sleeved shirt, always wear latex or nitrile gloves, and always, always, always wear a respirator when sanding. Respirator use when fiberglassing isn't a bad idea either.

Shawn

: Thanks for the information. Your comment reminds me of something my father
: would say. I'm from Arkansas, and spent many weekends canoeing the rivers
: and creeks here. I'm worried about how toxic fiberglass is. What can be
: done to protect yourself? Do you have a favorite book on the subject?