If you want to avoid them for health reasons, there are types of ceramic fiber that can be dissolved by the body (water + mild acid), but they will take slightl

If you want to avoid them for health reasons, there are types of ceramic fiber that can be dissolved by the body (water + mild acid), but they will take slightly less heat, and you'd have to protect them from, obviously, water and acids. edit: I'd still suggest to enclose them and wear a mask while working with them, but IMHO them being dissolvable makes them much less scary, at least to me.