Mesothelioma and Drywall

Although in 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in consumer products, with existing stocks of asbestos-containing construction materials being used until they were exhausted in the mid-1980s, drywall workers today are still at risk of asbestos exposure that can lead to the rare but deadly cancer mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer. Asbestos-containing dust can become an issue when wall repair or demolition is performed on buildings constructed during the asbestos era. According to Mesotheliomaweb.org, any house made after 1940 in the United States likely contains drywall, also known as sheetrock. Before asbestos was phased out of consumer products, it was used in building materials including drywall, drywall tape and drywall joint compound.

Risks to Drywall Workers and Their Families

Drywall workers include drywall installers, also known as applicators or hangers, and drywall tapers, also known as finishers. For drywall tapers working in the 1980s and earlier, asbestos exposure could have occurred when sanding the taping compound, cutting and applying asbestos-treated tape to drywall seams, or mixing drywall or taping compound. Drywall installers during that era also may have been exposed when cutting and hanging drywall made with asbestos. The families of these workers may have been subject to second-hand exposure when washing asbestos-contaminated work clothes, and there are cases of mesothelioma attributed to this type of second-hand exposure.

Today, even though asbestos is not used in the production of drywall, drywall workers are still at risk of asbestos exposure. When working in older homes, they may come into contact with drywall products containing asbestos that were used in the original construction. Asbestos-containing dust can be stirred up when replacing or repairing old drywall or during building demolition. When asbestos-containing dust is inhaled by drywall workers, the asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lining surrounding the body's organs, the mesothelium, increasing one's risk of developing mesothelioma. An asbestos attorney or mesothelioma lawyer helps victims recover compensation for their injury and illness.

Minimizing Exposure

According to an article published in the Journal of ASTM International, between 2,500 and 3,000 new cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States annually, with an estimated 80 percent of the cases being caused by occupational exposure to asbestos-containing materials. Here are some steps drywall workers and homeowners doing their own drywall work can take to minimize their exposure to asbestos and their risk of developing mesothelioma:

• Wear face masks or respirators.
• Use HEPA rated vacuums or wet drywall dust before vacuuming.
• Use hand tools or drills with dust-collection devices that are fitted with a HEPA filter.

Second-hand Exposure Risk

Drywall workers are not the only ones at risk of asbestos exposure. Individuals who live in older homes with asbestos-containing drywall components can be exposed to asbestos during do-it-yourself wall repair or replacement projects. In some cases, second-hand exposure occurs simply by living in a house with asbestos, even if a person never does anything to disturb asbestos-containing drywall products in the home. Anytime drywall work is done in an older home, face masks or respirators should be worn and careful care should be given to controlling and cleaning up drywall dust.

If you have been exposed to asbestos while working with drywall, undergoing regular screenings to identify mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases is important, as early detection can improve one's prognosis. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing first-hand or second-hand asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation for your injury and illness. Contact an experienced asbestos lawyer to discuss your legal rights with a medical doctor who is also a mesothelioma attorney with expertise in handling asbestos lawsuits.