Potential health hazards associated with exposures to asbestos-containing drywall accessory products: A state-of-the-science assessment

Abstract

Until the late 1970s, chrysotile asbestos was an ingredient in most industrial and consumer drywall accessory products manufactured in the US. In 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a ban of consumer patching compounds containing “respirable, free-form asbestos” based on their prediction of exceptionally high rates of asbestos-related diseases among individuals using patching compounds for as little as a few days. Although hundreds of thousands of workers and homeowners handling these products may have experienced exposure to asbestos prior to the ban, there has been no systematic effort to summarize and interpret the information relevant to the potential health effects of such exposures. In this analysis, we provide a comprehensive review and analysis of the scientific studies assessing fiber type and dimension, toxicological and epidemiological endpoints, and airborne fiber concentrations associated with joint compound use. We conclude that: 1) asbestos in drywall accessory products was primarily short fiber (< 5 µm) chrysotile, 2) asbestos in inhaled joint compound particulate is probably not biopersistent in the lung, 3) estimated cumulative chrysotile exposures experienced by workers and homeowners are below levels known to be associated with respiratory disease, and 4) mortality studies of drywall installers have not demonstrated a significantly increased incidence of death attributable to any asbestos-related disease. Consequently, contrary to the predictions of the CPSC, the current weight of evidence does not indicate any clear health risks associated with the use of asbestos-containing drywall accessory products. We also describe information gaps and suggest possible areas of future research.

Keywords::

• Joint compound
• joint cement
• drywaller
• drywall finisher
• taper
• chrysotile
• mesothelioma
• CPSC

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jennifer Pierce, Alison Welch, Kara Franke and Matthew Ground for their technical assistance and contributions to this assessment.

Declaration of interest

The research underlying this assessment was funded, in part, by Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. and United Gilsonite Laboratories. Both of these firms have been involved in litigation related to the possible exposure to asbestos by individuals handling drywall accessory products as career tradesmen or during home renovation projects. These organizations have not reviewed any part of this manuscript prior to its submission for publication. One of the authors has served as an expert witness in litigation regarding the potential health hazard to individuals historically handling or otherwise in the vicinity of others handling asbestos-containing drywall accessory products.