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Dust entry

Drywall joint-compound dust

Dust generated when sanding drywall joint compound, which may contain talc, calcite, mica, gypsum, and silica.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

eye irritationnose and throat irritationpersistent airway irritationcoughingbreathing difficulty

Evidence

NIOSH reports that drywall joint compounds contain mixtures such as talc, calcite, mica, gypsum, and silica; drywall dust can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract, cause persistent airway irritation and breathing difficulty, and—when silica is present—increase silicosis and lung-cancer risk.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Problem; What this means to you · 1
Drywall joint compounds are made from many ingredients (i.e., talc, calcite, mica, gypsum, silica). ... Some of the compounds found in drywall dust have been associated with varying degrees of eye, nose, throat, and respiratory tract irritation. Over time, breathing the dust from drywall joint compounds may cause persistent throat and airway irritation, coughing, phlegm production, and breathing difficulties similar to asthma. When silica is present, workers may also face an increased risk of silicosis and lung cancer.

NIOSH reports that vacuum sanding systems reduced drywall dust exposures by 80% to 97% in its study, with four of five systems reducing exposures by nearly 95%.

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Vacuum Sanding Systems · 2
The five commercially available vacuum sanding controls successfully reduced dust exposures by 80% to 97%. Four of the five sanding controls cut exposures by nearly 95%.

NIOSH's 2024 health-hazard evaluation describes respirable crystalline silica becoming airborne during drywall sanding and evaluates worker exposure to respirable silica and respirable dust.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 1 · 1
Management from a drywall finishing company requested a health hazard evaluation concerning employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica during drywall-sanding activities. Crystalline silica is a common mineral in construction materials. When it becomes airborne in dust, it can harm the lungs.

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