Exposure to asbestos in the use of consumer spackling, patching, and taping compounds

Our plain-English summary of Exposure to asbestos in the use of consumer spackling, patching, and taping compounds, by A.N. Rohl, A.M. Langer, I.J. Selikoff, et al (Science, 1975).

The study

• Authors: A.N. Rohl, A.M. Langer, I.J. Selikoff, W.J. Nicholson
• Journal: Science
• Published: 1975;189(4202):551-3
• Cited by: 32 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher
• In J-M's library: Johns-Manville's company medical library held a copy (J-M no. 002331).

Abstract

Analysis of representative samples of spackling, patching, and jointing compounds, purchased at retail stores in the New York City area, has shown that some contain asbestos minerals as well as other biologically active substances. Measurements suggest that home repair work involving the use of such materials may result in exposure to dust at concentrations sufficient to produce disease.

In plain English

The authors bought 15 consumer spackling and patching compounds at hardware stores in the New York City area (four in 1972 or earlier, the rest in January 1974). They analyzed them by polarized light microscopy, x-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Three contained chrysotile asbestos and two others contained tremolite and anthophyllite asbestos. Seven were estimated to contain more than 10 percent quartz. Of ten industrial drywall taping compounds, nine contained chrysotile. They measured airborne asbestos in drywall construction workers' breathing zones. Mean peak concentrations of fibers longer than 5 micrometers, counted by light microscopy, were 47.2 fibers per milliliter during dry mixing (2 samples), 10.0 during pole-sanding (10 samples) and 5.3 during hand-sanding (11 samples). Fibers were also found in adjacent rooms and after sweeping. Electron microscopy found 200 to almost 1000 fibers for each fiber visible by light microscopy. None of the 25 products examined had warning labels. The authors concluded that home repair use may expose users and household members to significant asbestos concentrations. They recommended removing hazardous materials from these products and, in the meantime, requiring labels.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Laboratory mineral analysis of commercial products, combined with air sampling during drywall work
• Who was studied: 15 consumer spackling and patching compounds bought at New York City area hardware stores (four in 1972 or earlier, the rest in January 1974), plus 10 industrial drywall taping compounds. Air samples came from drywall construction workers at building job sites.
• Exposure: Chrysotile, tremolite and anthophyllite asbestos (and quartz, talc and other minerals) in spackling, patching and taping compounds. Airborne fibers were measured during hand-sanding, pole-sanding, dry mixing with water, and sweeping.
• Main results:
  • Of the 15 consumer compounds, three contained chrysotile asbestos and two others contained tremolite and anthophyllite asbestos (Table 1: chrysotile 5-10%, tremolite 4-6%, anthophyllite 10-12%)
  • Quartz was estimated at greater than 10 percent in seven of the consumer samples
  • Asbestos fibers in the samples ranged from 0.25 to 8.0 micrometers in length
  • Nine of ten industrial drywall taping compounds contained chrysotile, at 5 to 12 percent by weight
  • During dry mixing of taping compound, mean peak concentration of fibers longer than 5 micrometers (light-microscope count) was 47.2 fibers per milliliter (2 samples, range 35.4 to 59.0). The authors described this as 7 to 12 times the current occupational standard.
  • Airborne concentrations of 5 fibers per milliliter or more (fibers longer than 5 micrometers) were common during use of asbestos-containing drywall taping compounds. Mean peak was 10.0 for pole-sanding (10 samples) and 5.3 for hand-sanding (11 samples).
  • After sweeping, single samples measured 41.4 fibers per milliliter at 15 minutes and 26.4 at 35 minutes
  • For every fiber visible by light microscopy, electron microscopy showed 200 to almost 1000 more
  • None of the 25 industrial and consumer compounds examined had warning labels
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that using these materials in home repair (mixing, sanding, cleanup) may expose the user and other household members to significant asbestos concentrations. They recommended eliminating potentially hazardous materials from these products and, as an interim measure, requiring labels with respirator and cleanup instructions.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Fiber concentrations measured by the standard NIOSH light-microscope method only suggest the total asbestos exposure
  • Kaolinite can interfere with x-ray detection of chrysotile because their diffraction patterns are similar
  • Asbestos amounts were estimated with only approximately 20 percent reproducibility
  • Fibers could not be counted on samples taken during floor sweeping because the filters were overloaded
  • The proportion of inhaled fibers retained in the body was not studied

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Asbestos.

Related studies

• Mesothelioma associated with use of drywall joint compound: a case series and review of literature — J. Dahlgren, T. Peckham (2012)
• Consumer talcums and powders: mineral and chemical characterization — A.N. Rohl, A.M. Langer, et al. (1976)
• Re-creation of historical chrysotile-containing joint compounds — G.P. Brorby, P.J. Sheehan, et al. (2008)
• Potential artifacts associated with historical preparation of joint compound samples and reported airborne asbestos concentrations — G.P. Brorby, P.J. Sheehan, et al. (2011)
• More on the dynamics of dust generation: the effects of mixing and sanding chrysotile, calcium carbonate, and other components on the characteristics of joint-compound dusts — D.W. Berman, G.P. Brorby, et al. (2012)
• Drywall construction and asbestos exposure — A. Fischbein, A.N. Rohl, et al. (1979)

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