Different forms of polyurethane foam pose different health risks to the consumer. Polyurethane foam insulation is available to consumers in sprayable foam and prefabricated board forms. While sprayable polyurethane foam insulation is very versatile and convenient to use, it poses more health risks to the consumer and to the environment compared to polyurethane foam board insulation.
Spray polyurethane foam can have a detrimental effect on the health of the environment according to the sources at EnviroFoam Insulation. The blowing agents that are employed in most spray polyurethane foam insulations contain greenhouse gases which are known to have a negative effect on the atmosphere, according to ThomasNet.com.
When polyurethane foam comes in contact with a person's eyes, there is potential for the person to experience temporary blindness according to ThomasNet.com. Overexposure to certain polyurethane foams can lead to permanent blindness. Any individual that experiences polyurethane foam coming in contact with their eyes should seek medical consultation immediately.
Polyurethane emits toxic fumes that are not healthy to inhale according to ESP Energy. Overexposure to the polyurethane fumes in certain polyurethane foams can cause an individual to lose consciousness. Some people may experience an allergic reaction to polyurethane foam after coming in physical contact with the products according to Polyurethane.org. Some allergic reactions that may be experienced while coming in contact with polyurethane foam include rashes and difficulty breathing.
There are certain safety measures that should be set in place before handling or working around polyurethane foam. A respirator should be worn at all times while installing polyurethane foam to avoid inhalation of airborne polyurethane molecules. Eye protection should also be employed to avoid polyurethane coming in contact with the eyes. Protective gloves should be worn while handling polyurethane foam because of the risks linked with polyurethane foam and skin contact.