Joint Cement

Joint cement is also commonly known as "wallboard joint cement.” This substance may also be labeled as mud, drywall mud, or tape joint compound. Joint cement is an adhesive used primarily for attaching the joint tape that is placed over the seams between sheets of gypsum wallboard. It is also used to conceal nail and screw heads and to provide a smooth, absorbent surface for the application of paint.

Before asbestos was banned for most applications in the United States, asbestos fibers were added to joint cement in order to improve the working texture of the cement. In a 2000 report, the Washington State Department of Labor observed that the amount of asbestos contained in old joint cement may be as much as 5% by weight. The report found that during remodeling or demolition which does not involve sanding, grinding, or abrading the wall surface, joint cement usually remains intact.

The use of asbestos in building materials has been severely restricted since the 1980s and is banned for most applications. However, some brands may still contain up to 1% asbestos fibers by weight. The type of asbestos used is most likely to be chrysotile, or "white" asbestos. Chrysotile asbestos is thought to be somewhat less dangerous than amphibole asbestos (the "blue" or "brown" varieties), which is banned outright in most of the world, including the U.S. and Canada.

Chrysotile asbestos still poses a danger to human health, however, and even if old joint cement is not friable, it is important to take precautions when working around old building materials, particularly materials manufactured before 1980.

Joint Cement Products Containing Asbestos

The following partial list of joint cement products were known to contain asbestos:

Hazards Associated with Asbestos Joint Cement Products

Asbestos fibers that enter the air are easily inhaled by humans, and once this happens they generally remain in the body forever. The fibers lodge in soft tissues such as the lung and the mesothelium (a thin layer of cells which wraps internal organs), and are eventually attacked by the body’s immune system. This immune system response leads to the scarring of the tissues and the development of tumors. This process is the primary cause of diseases like asbestosis, peritoneal mesothelioma, and pleural mesothelioma.

Learn More about Compensation for Asbestos-Related Injury

Malignant mesothelioma does not occur without a cause. Nearly all cases of mesothelioma develop because of past asbestos exposure. The manufacturers of asbestos-containing products like joint cement knew that asbestos posed deadly risks, but in most cases continued to expose millions of people to these substances. If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma, there are legal remedies available such as retaining a mesothelioma lawyer. We have created a free information packet with information on legal options, as well as medical information about asbestos-related conditions. To get your free copy, fill in the form on this page so we can immediately send your packet at no cost to you.

Sources

Bowker, Michael. Fatal Deception: The Untold Story of Asbestos (New York: Touchstone, 2003)

Phillips, Ken. "Industrial Minerals in Arizona's Wallboard Joint Cement Industry." Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources, July 1989

N/A. "Asbestos-Containing Joint Compound In Wallboard Systems." Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 28 Dec 2000