Where most walls were made of lath and plaster before World War II, drywall (also known as wallboard or gypsum board) can be found in just about every building constructed in the United States after the 1930s. Because it is affordable and easy to install, it is still used in both residential and commercial construction.
Unfortunately, before the 1980s, gypsum boards and the joint compounds used to join them together contained asbestos. This put those who installed or later removed the product, as well as those who worked near them or who were exposed to the product when it’s been damaged, at risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos refers to a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicates. Prior to the 1980s, it was commonly used in many applications, including the manufacturing of insulation and surfacing materials. When asbestos or asbestos-containing materials are damaged or worn, microscopic particles are released and become airborne. If these are inhaled or ingested, they can be extremely hazardous to human health.
History of Asbestos in Drywall
Drywall was first invented in 1916. The United States Gypsum Corporation — a company that merged approximately 30 different gypsum and plaster manufacturing companies — created drywall to protect homes from fires. It was advertised as an affordable and safe answer to plaster walls. It was praised for being fireproof and for the ability to install it quickly, with no waiting for materials to dry.[1]
It took time for drywall’s benefits to be recognized, but by the 1940s’ post-war baby boom, new home construction accelerated rapidly. Between 1946 and 1960, more than 21 million new houses were built in the United States, and drywall was included in nearly all of them. In addition to residential structures, builders used the material in commercial, industrial, and military buildings.
For decades, drywall manufacturers used asbestos in the production of drywall materials. The mineral was considered an ideal building material because it made the products lighter, stronger, and more fire-resistant, all at a low cost. It was also widely available, making it especially appealing for use in common products like drywall.[2]
Construction workers often cut, mixed, sanded, and swept drywall materials during the course of construction, and the dust raised by those activities contained asbestos, but by the 1980s, the dangers of asbestos became widely known,[3] and regulations limited its use. In 1977, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) set a partial asbestos drywall ban, prohibiting patching compounds containing asbestos for consumer use.[4]
At the time, asbestos could be found in about half of all patching compounds, but product labels on these products did not provide any health warnings to users and the ban did not extend to all types of drywall products. Existing buildings constructed before the 1980s have a high likelihood of containing asbestos construction products, so the same dangers posed to those working with the product at the time it was installed is true for those working to remove it or repair it.
Why Was Asbestos Used in Drywall Products?
Before the 1980s, companies used asbestos in the manufacture of drywall materials in various ways. Asbestos was often part of the sheetrock mixture itself. The mineral was also used in materials like joint compounds—either a pre-mixed paste or a powder that water is added to—which are used to seal the seams between drywall panels. Construction workers also used joint compound for smaller wall patches and repairs. The material is also commonly found in drywall tape and surfacing texture.
Modern testing shows that the primary type of asbestos in drywall materials is chrysotile, which comprises 90–95% of asbestos used in buildings in the United States.[5] Some research from the 1970s and 1980s showed asbestos air fiber measurements in drywall to be above regulation limits at the time of their usage. A 2012 study found that demolishing or repairing wallboard may disturb asbestos joint compound and that these materials continue to be potential sources of exposure.[5]
Dangers of Asbestos in Drywall and Finishing Materials
Drywall that contains asbestos is not generally hazardous unless it is disturbed, which often occurs during demolitions, renovations, home remodeling, or DIY projects, but when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, small particles are released into the air. Homeowners and construction workers alike may still face these risks in older buildings and homes, as something as simple as sanding or painting drywall that contains asbestos can release dangerous, undetectable fibers. Once inhaled or ingested, these fibers can lead to serious health problems, including pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other serious asbestos-related diseases.
List of Asbestos Drywall Products
Many types of drywall materials and drywall layers may have contained asbestos. The most common asbestos drywall components include:
- Acoustical and patching plasters
- Ceiling panels
- Drywall and vinyl base adhesives
- Finishing compounds
- Joint system cements
- Joint wall compounds (or muds)
- Laminating and joint topping compounds
- Liquid adhesives
- Plasterboards
- Sheetrock or gypsum boards
- Spackling compounds
- Tapes
- Wall and ceiling surfacing textures
Companies That Produced Asbestos Drywall and Finishing Materials
Many well-known companies once manufactured and distributed asbestos drywall products, and corporate documents show that some knew the products they made were dangerous but kept the information quiet in order to continue earning profits. It was only after regulations were put in place that they stopped using the mineral in their U.S. product lines, so for years, these companies put people at risk of asbestos exposure.
Companies that produced asbestos drywall and finishing materials include:
- American Biltrite
- Armstrong World Industries
- Bestwall Gypsum Company
- Bondex International
- CertainTeed Corporation
- Congoleum
- The Flintkote Company
- GAF Corporation
- Georgia-Pacific Corporation
- Hamilton Materials Inc.
- Kaiser Gypsum Company Inc.
- Kelly-Moore Paints
- National Gypsum Company
- Synkoloid Company
- U.S. Gypsum Company
- W.R. Grace
Who Is at Risk of Asbestos Exposure from Drywall Materials?
The use of asbestos drywall materials may have led to occupational exposure for many people over the years. Both carpenters and painters may have been exposed to asbestos through drywall materials like joint compound and wallboard. Veterans of all military branches may have experienced exposure in barracks and other buildings. Homeowners may have also experienced non-occupational exposure to asbestos drywall materials when doing home repairs or renovations. By the 1980s, new drywall products did not contain asbestos, but older drywall materials still present an exposure risk when buildings are renovated or repaired.
Occupations most at risk of asbestos exposure from drywall and finishing products include:
- Acoustical workers and ceiling tile installers
- Air Force, Army, Marine, and Navy veterans
- Architects and engineers
- Bricklayers, carpenters, and masons
- Construction workers and demolition crews
- Contractors and drywall tapers
- Electricians and HVAC workers
- Firefighters and industrial workers
- Insulators and pipefitters
- Painters and plumbers
- Plasterers and roofers
- Shipyard workers and steamfitters
- Teachers who worked in older school buildings
Asbestos Drywall Lawsuits, Settlements, and Compensation
Many people sickened by exposure to asbestos in drywall and finishing materials have successfully secured significant compensation and justice through the legal system. The following cases are just a few examples of people demanding accountability from the manufacturers who put them at risk.
- John Casey, a plumber and pipefitter who spent decades working at construction sites, developed malignant pleural mesothelioma as a result of bystander exposure to asbestos dust raised by drywall installers. After his death, his wife Patricia filed suit against more than 60 asbestos companies, most of which settled out of court. Kaiser Gypsum proceeded to trial, where evidence was presented showing that while the company had taken steps to protect its own employees from asbestos exposure, but did not extend the same protections to customers using its products. A jury ordered the company to pay the widow $20 million in punitive damages.
- Raymond Budd developed mesothelioma after working with Kaiser Gypsum’s joint compound from 1962 to 1972. He and his wife, Vickie, filed suit, and a jury awarded them $13.5 million. Kaiser moved to overturn the verdict on multiple grounds, but the Washington Court of Appeals affirmed the jury’s decision, rejecting each argument in turn.
- Construction supervisor William Aubin was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma after years of exposure to asbestos dust created from sanding and sweeping drywall joint compounds containing Union Carbide asbestos on construction sites in Sarasota, Florida. After evidence showed that the company had been aware of the dangers of its asbestos product since at least 1964, the jury awarded the equivalent of $6.6 million after accounting for other companies’ liabilities.
- Michael Galier was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2012, and trace his asbestos exposure to childhood visits to construction sites in Moore, Oklahoma, where he played and swept up drywall dust from products bearing the Murco Wall Products name. A jury found Murco forty percent responsible for his mesothelioma.
Safely Removing Asbestos Drywall Materials
Because asbestos is often present in buildings constructed before the 1980s, specific protocols should be followed when working with materials that could contain the toxic mineral. These include:[1]
- Only asbestos professionals should test for asbestos presence. Homeowners and contractors should consult with state-accredited asbestos inspection firms.
- Homeowners should not handle or remove asbestos themselves. Asbestos abatement professionals are available for hire and will follow all applicable laws for handling and disposing of asbestos drywall materials.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established specific asbestos work practices as part of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), which set processes to minimize the release of asbestos fibers during construction activities.
- If demolition or renovation impacts a wall system, the EPA requires a composite analysis of drywall components, including joint compound, tape, and wallboard. If the analysis shows more than 1% asbestos, the project must follow the EPA’s NESHAP standards.
Have You Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma After Asbestos Exposure from Drywall?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness after exposure to asbestos-containing drywall products, you may be entitled to compensation from the suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors responsible for your exposure. Many of these companies have been ordered to pay millions of dollars in damages to those sickened by their products, and some have been forced into bankruptcy by their asbestos liabilities and required to establish trust funds to compensate victims.
Mesothelioma attorneys specialize in helping people harmed by asbestos exposure. They can review the details of your exposure and explain the various available options, including personal injury lawsuits, workers’ compensation claims, and bankruptcy trust fund claims.
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