Icynene thermal or sound insulation materials

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. First aid

   Made Mar 26, 2023 · , sent to the company Mar 30, 2023 · , published by CPSC Apr 20, 2023

   The product, in the report: Icynene Open Cell, Medium Density, Spray Polyurethane Insulation

   Open cell spray foam insulation was installed over the entire ceiling in my full height basement. The installers left it exposed so we could “dig through” to access electrical wires and plumbing. The product was frequently disturbed as workmen dug through to repair mechanicals. Debris was left scattered on the basement floor. I have since learned TCPP is an additive to this product, as such, migrates out. The installers and manufacturers had no established, scientifically evaluated protocol for the removal of the Icynene Open Cell Spray Foam. What entered my home was the equivalent of 50 upholstered products. I do not understand why this insulation is not included with the other consumer products containing organohalogen flame retardants. An “expert” toxicologist, [REDACTED], was hired to evaluate risk. He assured me because the TCPP was a semi organic compound that it did not migrate out, and my son, in puberty who had a playroom in the basement had no exposure risk, unless he “ate the foam.” There is no regulation regarding exposure to this hazardous product. There is no obligation to inform that exposure will occur and cleanup becomes a hazardous waste site. Additionally, I was made chemically ill by off gassing for the first 18 months.

   Model

   N/A

   UPC

   N/A

   Serial number

   N/A

   Where

   Cambridge, Massachusetts: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 50, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Icynene Open Cell, Medium Density, Spray Polyureth, made or sold by ICYNENE INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional

2. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made Oct 10, 2014 · , sent to the company Oct 21, 2014 · , published by CPSC Nov 4, 2014

   The product, in the report: Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation

   I built a custom home, completed January 2014. In May 2014, when the weather warmed up, the house began to smell badly every afternoon. After searching the home for the cause of the smell it was found to be coming from the attic. I suspected the Spray Polyurethane Foam insulation (SPF) in the attic was the source of the smell. On May 28th I moved my family out of the home due to constant headaches, throat pain, coughing, and other symptoms. I sent some of the SPF to a lab for testing, and also ran Indoor Air Quality tests on my home. The lab has since confirmed that the SPF is off-gassing chemicals into my home, and that the home is not safe to live in.

   Model

   LD-C-50 Classic Open Cell Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation

   Bought from

   Miller’s Insulation, New Mexico

   Bought

   Nov 6, 2013, about then

   Where

   Rio Rancho, New Mexico: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 1, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Child

   As this report names them

   Brand Icynene, made or sold by ICYNENE INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

3. Hospital admission

   Made Mar 1, 2012 · , sent to the company Mar 9, 2012 · , published by CPSC Mar 23, 2012

   The product, in the report: Icynene closed cell spray foam insulation

   Beginning in October 2010 through May 2011, I rented a cottage which had been newly winterized by the landlord prior to my moving in. The landlord, acting as the contractor, hired a company to install Icynene closed cell polyurethane spray foam insulation. As a member of the unsuspecting public, after a short time I started developing headaches, a runny nose, acid reflux and then allergic-like reactions to food. This was followed by respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, which went unexplained for over eight months, despite blood tests, chest x-rays, CT scans, and the like. Eventually, I was diagnosed with a serious inflammatory gastrointestinal condition and a respiratory condition, specifically hyper-reactive airways (which my MD refers to as “isocyanate asthma”) During my occupancy, I had noticed an ammonia type of musty smell at times, especially along the stairwell leading to the 2nd floor. By the spring of May 2011 with the windows closed, after three days of heavy rain and then heat, a very strong odor of ammonia, polyurethane type paint, and other noxious smells pervaded the cottage interior. I vacated immediately. The suspicious odors were confirmed by five different friends/neighbors and the cause of my health problems became clear. From the time I moved into the cottage to present, I have had over 60 medical appts. Although my respiratory symptoms have improved since vacating, I continue to cope with substantial health problems, including acute sensitization and autonomic nervous system dysfunction from this chemical exposure. I was always healthy before moving into the cottage, never realizing spray foam insulation under floors, in walls and the roofline of a small building could offgas disocyanates, amine catalysts, ammonia by-products and other chemicals. No ventilation had been installed. I was informed by three highly respected medical professionals in Boston-a research physician at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, an occupational health clinic physician and instructor at Harvard School of Public Health, and a pulmonologist affiliated with the Beth Israel Deaconness Hospital- that spray foam insulation poses significant health risks, as it is often not mixed properly, not applied properly, does not cure properly in the wall, and often is not properly ventilated. One of the physicians stated “even if Icynene works perfectly, it sometimes does not cure properly and can offgas.” Each of these medical professionals knew about the deleterious effects of this product, including respiratory effects and cases of “isocyanate” asthma.

   Also of note, many of the protocols established for the product application- certification of applicator, ventilation required for safety and adequate air exchanges, checking of R values for building inspection and occupancy permit- were not properly followed in this case.

   This product should not be on the market- without adequate knowledge of its effects on human health and/or any established scientific methods to test air for isocyanates or the human body for metabolites. I have major concerns about the widespread use of this product and believe it poses a significant public health risk. Action must be taken.

   Model

   Icynene MD-R-200 Insulating Spray Foam

   Bought from

   Buildwithfoam.com by Closed Cell Structures, LLC

   Where

   Rockport, Massachusetts: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 52, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Icynene spray foam insulation, made or sold by ICYNENE INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Hospital Admission

4. Emergency room

   Made Feb 22, 2012 · , sent to the company Feb 29, 2012 · , published by CPSC Mar 14, 2012

   The product, in the report: spray foam used for insulation in buildings/homes

   In December 2009, I had Icynene spray foam insulation installed in a home under construction. I had worked in this house for nine months without any kind of health issues. After working in the house on four different occasions in the first week that the foam was sprayed, I was in the emergency room in a local hospital with severe chest pains. I was checked for heart problems but had no problem there. I told the doctor that I had been in this house and smell of the foam was quite strong. She said that maybe I had a chemical burn. This product was advertised as being inert and did not off-gass. Icynene finally had a company do an air sample in May of 2010 and the VOC’s were almost eleven times the allowable amount for new construction yet the company said that the VOC’s were coming from some other source. There was nothing else in the house except the sub-floor that was not covered by their foam insulation. Like I said, I had been in the house almost daily for nine months doing electrical and assorted construction work without a problem until the insulation was installed in the building. Other people that had been in the house several times earlier also had problems. The house is still sitting as it was the day the foam was sprayed in it in 2009. Each time that I have gone into the house since for just a short time, I have had to go to a doctor. I had an analysis done on the product and it was still showing isocyanate, one of the sensitizing agents, still present seven weeks after the product was sprayed. The company says that the product is supposed to be safe within twenty four hours. The last time that I contacted the company, Icynene Inc., about my problems, the engineer, [REDACTED], hung up the phone on me. I have tried to get the installer to see if he could take the product out of the building but he too is of no help.

   The EPA is looking at isocyanate related problems a little closer now. Anyone can go to http:// epa.gov/pbt/ and look at Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (MDI) and Related Compounds Action Plan [RIN 2070-ZA15] for more information.

   Model

   Icynene LD-C-50

   Bought from

   HBS Foam Insulation, South Carolina

   Bought

   Dec 22, 2009

   Where

   Parksville, South Carolina: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 65, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Icynene, made or sold by ICYNENE INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

5. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made Nov 3, 2011 · , sent to the company Nov 18, 2011 · , published by CPSC Dec 12, 2011

   The product, in the report: Icynene

   On June 11, 2009 Woodman Insulation in Atlanta installed Icynene foam under the roof in our attic at {REDACTED]. The installer did not tell us to be out of the house and didn’t create a negative air pressure in the attic. The vapor and mist from the installation permeated the whole house and made us sensitive to something in the product. A couple of days after installation, we started living in the houses of friends who were on vacation and ventilated the house in hopes that we would be able to return. Within a few weeks, my wife found that she was sensitive to clothes and other possessions we had taken with us from the house. We ultimately realized that we would not be able to live in our house again and bought another house in the same neighborhood. And we put any possessions we thought we might be able to decontaminate in storage. Although my symptoms have not been as bad or consistent and persistent as my wife’s, we both experienced eye irritation and headaches. My wife also experienced chest pain. She remains sensitive to possessions brought from storage, and I get headaches from latex paint and lacquer odor, symptoms I have never experienced before even though I have used those products.

   Bought from

   Woodman Insulation, Georgia

   Bought

   Jun 11, 2009

   Where

   Decatur, Georgia: Unspecified

   Who was involved

   Age 54, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Spouse

   As this report names them

   Brand Icynene, made or sold by ICYNENE INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources