Decorative Plaster - Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks

Decorative plaster and acoustic plaster was commonly used in building and surfacing walls during the 1940s through 1980s. Decorative plaster treatments include troweled plaster ceilings and walls, molded plaster footings and moldings and plaster art deco work on old buildings. The primary danger today in decorative plaster is exposure to asbestos dust as the plaster deteriorates.

Decorative plaster may also have been known as artex, or acoustical plaster. In fact, one of the most common places to find asbestos in older homes is in textured artex ceilings which were very popular in the 1960s and 1970s. Artex ceilings made before the early 1980s commonly contained white asbestos, also known as chrysotile asbestos. While chrysotile asbestos is the least harmful type of asbestos used in construction, there is still the danger of inhaling asbestos fibers if the ceilings become friable.

Over one million US workers in the construction and demolition industry have been exposed to asbestos that was widely used in construction through the 1970s. Construction workers who mixed plaster for decorative plaster may have been exposed to asbestos particles and dust in the air. Specialists in creating scalloped plaster ceilings and other decorative uses of plaster may have been exposed to levels of asbestos nearly as high as those experienced in factories that made asbestos containing plaster and other materials. Other dangers of decorative plaster include exposure to asbestos dust during renovation, repair and demolition.

Millions of workers have been exposed to asbestos in the past 75 years. Because so many asbestos containing materials were used in the construction industry, people who worked in construction during the 1920s to the 1980s are at heightened risk of developing mesothelioma, a cancer that is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. While most products containing asbestos were discontinued after the early 1980s, there are still many products being used that contain asbestos. In addition, anyone who works in demolition or renovation of older homes faces an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. Custodians and janitors in buildings with a great deal of decorative plaster work may also be at higher risk than the general population for developing mesothelioma.

Who should be concerned about decorative plaster?

Anyone who worked in factories where plaster mix was made or packaged was exposed to asbestos and is at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. Plaster workers and spacklers who created artex ceilings and walls may have been exposed to exceptionally high levels of asbestos. Contractors and those who work in renovation and repairs who may have restored or replaced old artex plastered ceilings are at risk from asbestos exposure, particularly if they sanded the artix plaster away.

What should I do if I have decorative plaster in my home?

As long as the plaster is in good shape and not crumbling, it does not present a hazard to your health. If the ceilings or walls are crumbling or damaged, however, you should contact a professional asbestos remover for a consultation on the best way to remove or cover the crumbling asbestos plaster. A solution as simple as painting an artex ceiling can bind the asbestos fibers and prevent them from being shed into the air.

If you were exposed to asbestos in your workplace or on the job, and were later diagnosed with asbestosis or mesothelioma, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your illness. The courts have awarded millions in settlement to workers who were harmed by asbestos since the 1970s. Contact a lawyer with experience in asbestos and mesothelioma cases to find out what your rights are in your situation.

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