Spackle
Prior to the mid-1970s, spackle joined the ranks of thousands of construction materials that relied on asbestos as a component. Providing insulation and offering high tensile strength, the tiny strands of asbestos were easily incorporated into many products, which appeared to benefit from inclusion of the silica-based mineral.
Spackle and Asbestos
Prior to the mid-1970s, spackle joined the ranks of thousands of construction materials that relied on asbestos as a component. Providing insulation and offering high tensile strength, the tiny strands of asbestos were easily incorporated into many products, which appeared to benefit from inclusion of the silica-based mineral.
But by the mid-1970s, health and safety experts had discovered that asbestos posed a hidden and very serious danger to those who were exposed to its fibers. Asbestos fibers are easily airborne, released when cut, sanded, or otherwise disturbed during building or renovation, and can be readily inhaled or ingested by anyone in the area where the construction materials are being used. Once in the body, the fibers can cause a host of potentially lethal health problems, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
In 1977, the federal government reacted to the threat of asbestos exposure by banning the use of the mineral in the manufacture of construction materials. But by that time, millions of men and women had been exposed to the fibers.
If you worked in the renovation or construction industry, or if you live or work in a building that was built or renovated prior to the mid-1980s, you may have been exposed to asbestos. The symptoms of asbestos exposure may not become apparent for decades, and may initially appear to be the early stages of a common cold. Your health care professional can help you determine your possible exposure risks, and although there is no cure for these illnesses, steps can be taken to lessen symptoms.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
