Plasterers were exposed to asbestos because it was allegedly mixed into the plaster, acoustic finishes, and patching compounds they worked with every day. Asbestos was added to plaster for fire resistance, crack control, and acoustic texture — and the mixing, troweling, sanding, and patching that made up a plasterer’s trade released that fiber straight into the air.
How Plasterers Were Exposed
Plasterers mixed dry plaster and finishing compound from the bag, which dusted loose asbestos fiber as it was poured and stirred. Acoustic and textured plaster — sprayed or troweled onto ceilings and walls — was allegedly asbestos-laden, and sanding or scraping it later released heavy dust. Patching and finishing old plaster meant cutting into and sanding decades-old asbestos material, and plasterers also handled joint compound for taping and finishing. The sanding step in particular put fine, respirable fiber directly into the plasterer’s breathing zone.
The Asbestos Materials — and the Products They Came In
Exposure tracked to a handful of material types. Each links to products documented in the AsbestosIndex as allegedly asbestos-containing:
Plaster & acoustic/textured plaster — mixed, troweled, sprayed, and sanded:
- USG Red Top plaster · National Gypsum Gold Bond plaster · USG Structolite plaster
- National Gypsum Gold Bond acoustical plaster · National Gypsum Audicote sprayed acoustical plaster · Keene acoustical plaster
Patching compound & texture — used to patch and finish walls and ceilings:
Joint compound — mixed and sanded for taping and finishing:
- Synkoloid all-purpose joint compound · USG Durabond joint compound · National Gypsum Gold Bond joint compound
Browse the full Plaster & Stucco and Joint Compounds & Patching Plaster categories for more.
Take-Home Risk to Families
Plasterers left the job dusted in dry mix and sanded plaster, carrying asbestos fibers home on their clothing, skin, and hair — exposing spouses and children who never worked with asbestos. See take-home asbestos exposure.
If you worked as a plasterer and were diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease after exposure to asbestos on the job, you may have a legal claim against the makers of the asbestos products involved.
Product references reflect allegations documented in publicly filed asbestos litigation. This information is published by an independent media organization — not a law firm — and is educational only. It does not constitute legal advice or provide legal services.