Joint Compound

Joint compound is the paste used to seal seams and cover nail heads between sheets of drywall, then sanded smooth before painting. Until the late 1970s many brands contained asbestos, often chrysotile, as a filler. Mixing the dry powder and sanding the dried compound produced fine, easily inhaled dust.

Significance in Asbestos Context

Asbestos joint compound is a major exposure source for drywall finishers, painters, carpenters, and do-it-yourself home remodelers. Sanding dried compound created large amounts of respirable dust in the worker's breathing zone, and products such as Georgia-Pacific's Ready-Mix have been the subject of extensive litigation and bankruptcy trusts. Because this work was common in homes as well as job sites, exposure often reached family members and bystanders nearby. Identifying the brand of joint compound used connects a patient's exposure to specific manufacturers and the trusts many of them established.

Example Sentence

She developed mesothelioma after years of sanding asbestos joint compound while finishing drywall, work she never suspected was dangerous.

Related Terms

Chrysotile, Drywall, Bystander Exposure, Product Identification, Bankruptcy Trust, Cumulative Exposure

Notes

• Try to identify brands of joint compound and the years and places it was used; this supports claims against specific manufacturers and trusts.
• Home renovation exposure counts; note do-it-yourself remodeling, not just paid work.
• Sanding dust exposed others in the home; household members may also have claims.