Clay
Most of us think of clay as a harmless toy, used by most of us as early as the pre-school years. From colorful clay, we’ve fashioned fanciful shapes or made coasters, vases, or trivets. Kids have eaten clay and survived to tell about it. However, studies conducted during the past few decades have shown that some kinds of clay might contain asbestos.
More than 25 years ago, in 1983, popular children’s toy maker Milton Bradley Co. recalled their Fibro-Clay, a school art modeling compound used to make paper mache. The company had manufactured the clay from 1967 to 1975. Until 1972, asbestos was one of the ingredients in the clay. By 1983, schools were advised to stop using the clay and those who still had the asbestos-containing clay in their possession were instructed to disturb it as little as possible and place it in a sealed plastic bag for disposal.
As recently as last year, the East Hartford, Conn. school district discovered that the clay being used in their art programs contained asbestos-contaminated talc. The clay in question was known as Nytal 100 and was immediately removed from classrooms not only in East Hartford but also throughout the country. Teachers that used Nytal 100 clay on a regular basis were advised to obtain chest x-rays, even though only small amounts of asbestos were found in the product. The talc in the clay was mined by the R.T. Vanderbilt Co. of New York and experts note that some schools may still be using it, despite the hazards.
Schools now recommend that talc-free clay be used in order to prevent asbestos exposure. In addition, it is recommended that pre-mixed wet clays instead of dry clays that need to be mixed with water should be used so as to avoid inhaling dry clay dust, which might contain asbestos fibers. A vacuum with a HEPA filter should be used to clean up any clay residue.
Aside from school modeling clay, asbestos-containing clay products may have also been used as a sealant or insulator for pipe joints. That means those who worked in the construction field – especially pipefitters, steamfitters, and plumbers – may have been exposed to asbestos-containing clay while on the job.
If you worked with asbestos-containing clay of any sort, you should continue to monitor your pulmonary health through annual chest x-rays and other pulmonary function tests. If you have already been diagnosed with an asbestos disease like mesothelioma, caused by exposure to asbestos-containing clay, you may be eligible for compensation for your loss of income and/or pain and suffering. Take a few moments to request our detailed information booklet to learn more about mesothelioma and your legal rights concerning the disease as well as asbestos exposure in general.
