diet_reah t1_j1ok8m5 wrote on December 26, 2022 at 3:04 AM

The negative health effects of inhaling asbestos appear 10-30 years after the exposure and it normally takes a lot of repeated exposures to be worrying. So it isn’t going to be asbestos that is giving your child a stuffy nose.

Its hard to tell from the markings/brand on the drywall alone if it contains asbestos. So the way to be sure is to take samples and have them tested. Its best to take at least 3 samples from different spots on the wall. It is also possible for there to be asbestos in the joint compound between the gypsum boards.

I would not be overly worried about the wallboard containing a large amount of asbestos though.

If getting samples tested is too expensive or inconvenient then you can try to minimize possible exposure. Use plastic sheets and tape to block off the construction area then cover anything inside it to prevent dust settling in. Tell husband to put the wallboard in trash bags and vacuum up afterwards. He should also be wearing at least an n-95 mask.

Creative-Trick-2310 OP t1_j1okzo6 wrote on December 26, 2022 at 3:11 AM

thank you for your reply. he wore a kn95 mask. that probably is not as good. I asked him to double it up with the masks but nope. what male listens to a female? this was the bathroom in the downstairs. when I got home my son wanted to conduct experiments with his present so we stayed downstairs since it has a ceramic floor and can easily be cleaned up. now, you have to turn the corner in order to see the bathroom he was working on. he did not turn off the heat so now I feel like we are all inhaling every particle because of our vent system.

last year our friend knocked the wall down in the laundry room. never thought about getting it tested and he acted like it was not a big deal. he removed some installation and never did it pass my mind. husband said we are doomed because of that work if this comes back positive.

diet_reah t1_j1oo882 wrote on December 26, 2022 at 3:41 AM

A n-95 is better but a kn95 is better than nothing. Closing the vent or turning off the heat when he’s working is a good idea. Personally I would be more concerned with the regular dust particles than with any asbestos. It sounds like thats what gave your son a stuffy nose.

Even if there is a positive result on the asbestos test I still wouldn’t be very worried. There are guys who work with old drywall every day for decades and never develop any problems.