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  1. About Mud
    1. When Did Joint Compound Contain Asbestos?
    2. Manufacturers and Distributors of Asbestos-Containing Joint Compounds
    3. Drywall vs. Plaster Installation
    4. Job sites in New York Where Joint Compound Was Used
      1. University At Buffalo
        1. University at Buffalo’s North Campus and Exposure to Asbestos
        2. University at Buffalo Image Gallery
        3. Our Clients Describe Their Asbestos Exposure at the University at Buffalo
          1. Electrician describes his exposure to asbestos during the construction of the U.B. Law School
          2. Plasterer describes the use of asbestos-containing fireproofing at the University at Buffalo
      2. Amherst Central High School
      3. Cornell University
        1. Cornell University Image Gallery
      4. Emerson Vocational School
      5. Hudson Plastering Corporation
      6. Marine Midland Center
      7. Marine Midland Plaza, Rochester
      8. Mercy Hospital
      9. Monroe Community College
      10. Rochester Davis-Fetch Corporation
      11. 9 more items...
  2. Exposure to Joint Compound
    1. Home Exposure to Joint Compound
    2. Building Renovations and Asbestos Abatement
    3. Exposure Through Drywall Installation
      1. Exposure Through Set-Up and Mixing
      2. Exposure Through Sanding
      3. Exposure Through Clean-Up
  3. U.S. Government Position on Asbestos
    1. Failure to Warn
    2. Countries That Have Banned Asbestos
  4. Mesothelioma & Joint Compound
    1. What is Mesothelioma?
    2. Symptoms of Mesothelioma
    3. Mesothelioma Diagnosis
    4. Legal Claims for Mesothelioma
    5. Joint Compound Legal Decisions
    6. Settlements for Joint Compound Workers
    7. Questions About Our Mesothelioma Practice
    8. Mesothelioma Book Request

Home > About Mud

About Mud

Asbestos Joint Compound or MudJoint compound is a substance similar to plaster used to seal seams between sheets of drywall. It is primarily used in building construction and renovations. Joint compound is commonly referred to as mud, and it is manufactured in two forms: dry mix and ready-mix.

Prior to the late 1970's, asbestos was used as a filler material in both the dry mix and ready mix versions of joint compound, because it is a fibrous mineral that prevented the compound from cracking when it dried. Other materials were available to serve this same purpose, but asbestos was the cheaper alternative. Joint compound manufacturers continued to incorporate asbestos into their products well into the late 1970's, even though they were well aware of the health dangers it posed. These same manufacturers failed to warn that asbestos-containing joint compound products could cause mesothelioma and lung cancer years after the fibers and dust were inhaled.

Joint compound is particularly dangerous in four steps of the drywall finishing process: (1) setup; (2) mixing; (3) sanding; and (4) clean up. If you or a loved one once worked as a drywaller, plasterer, carpenter, electrician, plumber, completed home renovations or lived in a home where renovation work was conducted and you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, we urge you to contact Lipsitz & Ponterio regarding your legal rights.