My house has an unfinished basement. Does the exposed fiberglass insulation in the ceiling pose any risk to my children, who sometimes play there? —A.O., Cold Spring, N.Y.

Probably not. While some studies of workers in fiberglass-insulation factories have reported an increased risk of lung damage from inhaled glass particles, others have not. And insulation that’s fixed in place doesn’t usually shed glass particles. It can, however, cause itching and rashes, so if your kids have those symptoms, make sure that insulation hasn’t fallen down or been disturbed.