Abestos, a carcinogen that was commonly used in the U.S. around the 70s has been used for different drywall manufacturing purposes. If you are stuck in lockdown amid this COVID-19 pandemic, there are a few things that you could consider. Have you ever thought of refurbishing any rooms in your office? It could be the meeting room or the conference room that is starting to wear out. Getting rid of the old walls or taking away that old-fashioned panel could be part of your plans. However, here are some things that you might want to consider before you start on your plans.
If your office has been around for several years, harmful minerals might be present in the walls of your office and the compound that links them. Coming into contact with these harmful substances can bring about scarring to body parts such as your abdominal tissue and lungs and cause you to struggle with breathing. In worst cases, it can also be the cause of diseases such as mesothelioma as well as lung cancer.
Dangers of Drywall
If the building of your office has been around for many years, the walls may be constructed of drywall and it is normally sold in 4×8 foot panels. Decorative panelling is present in relatively newer buildings and may have asbestos stuck in them.
If your aim is to get rid of that retro decorative panelling stuck in your office and change it to something else, do not split the sheets into different parts on your own. This is because it gives rise to the spread of asbestos fibers being scattered across your office room, causing you to be exposed to these harmful substances. Being in contact with asbestos fibers means that you will inhale these harmful substances, which can then cause breathing difficulties to those around.
One thing you could consider would be to wrap those tattered wall panels with other surface types, ensuring that there are no drill holes that fasten the new wall surface.
Dangers of Joint Compound
If you are unsure if asbestos is present in the drywall of your office, you would be surprised knowing that most wall-joint compounds, or sheetrock mud also did consist of asbestos fibers in the 1940s-1980s.
Wall-joint compounds existed in two different types and were applied to merge the seams present in drywall panels just as they were fixed.
During the 1950s, wall-joint compounds that consist of asbestos were sold across different stores selling hardware as a pre-mixed paste that came in a can, bucket, or in the form of a 25-pound sack of powder. First, the powder is poured into a huge mixing bowl and dissolved in water to form a paste. The paste is then applied onto drywall seams using a trowel so that the gypsum boards can be merged with one another. Once the mud dries up, sandpaper would be used to sand the finishing touches of the wall, giving it a smooth, even look. When the powder is poured into a huge mixing bowl, dust starts to fly around, causing you to inhale the dust. Sanding wall-joint compounds also caused a lot of dust to fly around. This is still a problem in today’s modern day and age.
What You Can Do
If you are looking for professionals who will be able to help you to get rid of asbestos in your walls, you have come to the right place. Here at Iris Environmental Laboratories, we are committed to ensuring that we provide professional asbestos and mold testing services. We have been in business for over 20 years and we believe that the needs of our clients should always be put first. Do contact us today for more information or to test with us!