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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
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  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 > Exposure to Joint Compound > Exposure Through Drywall Installation > Exposure Through Set-Up and Mixing

Exposure Through Set-Up and Mixing

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Dry mix joint compound (mud) was sold in paper bags or in 1 and 5 pound cardboard boxes. It was typical for the paper packaging to tear, allowing asbestos-containing powder to spill out. Asbestos is a light mineral; once it is released into the air, it can stay suspended for hours, ultimately exposing individuals long after renovation work is completed. Workers commonly carried one or more bags on their shoulder to and from the truck and job site.

In order to create a paste for application to the seams of drywall, water is added to dry joint compound and mixed. Typically, the mixing instructions called for pouring the dry powder into a bucket, adding water, and either mixing with a stick or an auger-type tool affixed to the end of an electric drill.

The action of pouring and stirring dry joint compound until it becomes moist, released asbestos fibers into the air. By necessity and to be able to pour and stir the compound properly, a worker's face is generally within a few feet of the dusty conditions, placing him in the heart of the most dangerous breathing zone.

When the dry mix joint compound is mixed thoroughly with water, it is now ready to be applied to the seams in-between two pieces of drywall.