Asbestos Drywall Joint Compound
A recent court case (Georgia Pacific Corporation vs. Pransky) shows how insidious and secretive the threat from asbestos exposure can be. When Ms. Pransky was just 8 years old, her father renovated the family basement and converted it into a recreation room for his daughter. While doing so, he nailed up drywall and taped the rough seams using asbestos-rich Ready-Mix, a popular joint compound. He sanded the compound and applied it liberally on the sealing. Ms. Pransky, unaware of the danger she was in, spent a large part of her childhood years in that room. She was continually exposed to asbestos fibers sticking to the ventilation system. She died of mesothelioma at the age of 34. This is a case of death due to secondary exposure to asbestos.
How Was Asbestos Drywall Joint Compound Used?
Asbestos becomes particularly lethal when it appears in joint compounds and adhesives. Joint compound is a plaster-like substance that seals joints between the sheets of drywall. In the 1900s, joint compounds containing asbestos were very popular because asbestos improved the working texture of the material. Since asbestos is wear-resistant, these compounds did not crack easily.In most cases, where the structures are relatively undamaged, risk to owners is minimal because the individual asbestos fibers are sealed in. However, any work that involves sanding, abrading, or grinding of the wall surface, will represent a much greater hazard of asbestos exposure. Sanding or scraping will directly disturb the asbestos-rich joint compound and release microscopic dust and debris composed of asbestos fibers. This dust is lethal because it floats and sticks to surfaces.
What Danger Is Posed By Asbestos Joint Compound?
Asbestos related diseases are quite common in handymen, construction workers, and consumers. Most people working in the construction industry are unaware of the level of toxicity they are exposed to on a daily basis. Since asbestos-related diseases are directly dependent on the period of exposure and the amount of exposure, your risk goes up every time you are exposed. Additionally, in the last 20 years, cases of secondary exposure are on the rise.If you suspect that you may be exposed, you could well be eligible for insurance cover and claim. Contact us if you have any questions regarding exposure or your legal rights.
