Document rxX4B6G4nmQKK527O7B3d5Dg0

FILE NAME: Drywall Spackling Compounds (DWSC) DATE: 1975 Aug 27 DOC#: DWSC013 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Newspaper Article - Asbestos Warning Given for Spackle CONSUMER NOTES- *--------------------------------------------------------------------------- AsbestosWarning Given for Spackle By FRANCES CERRA M-.W Y O RK T IM E S A u g u s t 2 7', 1975 t Do-it-yourselfers who re pair their own plaster or . plaster board walls should be aware of recent research indicating that some com monly available spackling compounds contain asbestos, a substance that has been linked to fatal cancer* and serious lung diseases. The Environmental Sclen; ce* Laboratory at Manhati tan's Mount Sinai Hospital, f under the direction of Dr, ' Irving J. Selikoff, recently, released the results of tests of 15 kinds of spackle that ; had been purchased in New York City. Five were found to contain appreciable 1 amounts of asbestos. (Some of the samples were dupli cate brands bought at differ ent times.) According to Dr. Selikoff, ; . the union o r drywali Taper* and Pointers of Greater New York called his attention to the possibility that the spackle might contain asbes tos. John A1farone, an official of the union, said some of , the members became ill and I were found to be suffering from . . asbestos-caused diseases.1 As a result Of Dr. Selikoffj , findings, he said, his union . members will no longer work > with any spackle that con tains asbestos, and will only sand the dried spackle it i they are provided with ) masks.. The asbestos in ' spackle Is released into the ; am, according to Dr. Selikoff, ` when the dry forms are , mixed with water to make a paste and when any form - of spackle is sanded. Long-Range Study Dr. David Rail, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, said it was doubtful that ; someone doing a small 1. amount of spackling work , at home was in any danger, i But he said that someone ! redoing the walls of an entire house might be taking "an unnecessary risk." Extensive research on the results of long-range, low-level asbes, tos exposure is in progress, he said. '' A spokesman for U.B Gyp sum, the manufacturer of one ' of the spackling brands 1 found to contain asbestos, said the company was phas ing out the production of spackle with asbestos. A spot check of several Manhattan paint stores found cans of U.g. Gypsum's Texolite, which contains from 6 to 10 per cent asbestos, still i on the market.' Also found was another U.S. Gypsum product called Durabond Paste Spackling, ehich was labeled'' 'Caution: Contains asbestos fivers. Avoid creat' ing dust. Breathing asbestos dust may cause serious bodi ly harm." , The other products found by Dr." Selikoff to contain asbestos were Perf A Tape, Metro and Arvon. The Perf A Tape was counted twice by D. Selikoff, because it was purchased and tested twice, once in 1972 or earlier, and later in January, 1974. Producte found to be without asbestos were Red Top, Mur- alo, Patch Paste, Schalk, UG-L Cerfex, Kex, New Kex, and Dap. Dr. Selikoff cau tioned thatthe products on the mariet today might con tain different ingredients. Persons wishing to mini mize any risk should use only paste spackle and j should wear a mask when .1 sanding. Most labels on j spackle products do not dis- j close the constituents that J went into them.