No, today’s roofing shingles are not poisonous. If your roof was placed with roofing shingles manufactured prior to 1989, it may contain asbestos, which is classified as a carcinogen that must be handled as a hazardous material.
Today, however, homeowners can be confident that any roofing shingles they install, whether asphalt roofing shingles, metal roofing shingles, rubber roofing shingles, wood roofing shingles, composite plastic roofing shingles, or other materials, will not harm their health.
The International Building Code requires roofing shingles to achieve a certain quality in order to be safe for humans and the environment.
Of course, this does not mean that shingle materials are safe to digest, but as far as roofing shingles giving off toxic gasses, they are entirely risk-free.
What Are Roof Shingles Made From?
Roof shingles are made of a variety of materials, but most shingles used today are asphalt-based. There are different types of shingles on the roof:
- Organic Asphalt Shingles
- Fiberglass Asphalt Shingles
- Metal Shingles
- Plastic or Rubber Composite Shingles
- Fiber Cement Shingles
Which Roof Shingles Are the Most Toxic?
Asphalt-Based shingles are only harmful during the installation and removal process, where roofing workers may encounter construction dust and sealants; this is mainly the case with heated asphalt that may still be used in the construction of commercial buildings.
Other kinds of shingles may pose similar risks during construction, although a few varieties have been known to pose different types of dangers:
- Cedar shakes shingles carry some natural insulative properties and may even be recycled for mulch at the end of their life cycle. The downside is that they have to be treated with fire retardants; these chemicals can be toxic to the point of negating their non pollutant status to some degree.
- Asbestos materials were used in some types of shingles. These pose the greatest health risk, as the fibers can damage the lungs if the shingles ruptures.
If Your Roof Is Constructed Of Roofing Shingles, Is It Safe To Drink Water Collected From The Roof?
- It’s not a problem to utilize this supply to water plants, but it becomes a health concern if you start drinking it.
- Rainwater collected from asphalt fiber glass roofing shingles and “green” roofs can contain high levels of dissolved organic carbon, according to University of Texas studies (DOC). When excessive amounts of DOC are combined with chlorine, a common disinfectant, the water becomes harmful to human health.
- Other items, such as garbage or bird droppings, can be harmful in addition to any poisons that may be present in the roofing material or paint. If you plan to drink the water collected from your roof, you must first filter it and have it tested.
Are Roofing Shingles Toxic to Animals?
If you have an outdoor pet that uses a clapboard house such as a kennel or poultry farm. You might be concerned about whether roofing shingles are harmful to your pets.
- Today’s roof shingles do not emit harmful gases, so you don’t have to worry about shingles in a chicken coop harming chickens or making cats sensitive to roofing materials.
- However, like other building materials and non-edible products in the Yard, animals should not digest roofing shingles . Therefore, if you notice iron shard granules or blown roof shards on your property, be sure to remove them before your dog begins to bite.
- If your pet bites or licks a piece of iron, it may not be that dangerous in practice, but it’s best to take it to your vet just in case.