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1PMagain t1_j1oeai5 wrote

I’d be really surprised if they were listing the recycled content in 1976. Sounds like a newer wall that was added later.

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69Dankdaddy69 t1_j1ogvzd wrote

Few airborne particles from building materials are ok for people to inhale, so you should always take precautions regardless of whether its recycled paper, crystalline silica, or asbestos.

Good practise would be to use plastic dropsheet to quarantine the area so he can keep the dust contamination as close to zero as possible. He should also be wearing a p3 respirator to keep himself safe. If water suppression is possible, use that. He should also remove his dusty clothes after finishing up and put them in a plastic bag to be washed separately.

While its only one wall, and everything will most likely be fine, workplace lung diseases are not to be taken lightly. I learned the hard way.

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DIYThrowaway01 t1_j1oh1tn wrote

Asbestos takes like 20+ years to start causing symptoms. Chill.

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LIDARcowboy t1_j1oh6je wrote

Asbestos is often in the drywall mud, not necessarily the drywall board itself. make sure to test both.

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1PMagain t1_j1oja61 wrote

Can you post a picture of the markings from the back of the wallboard?

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ImperfectBanana t1_j1ojhh8 wrote

Every single thing in your post history makes me dislike you.

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efffffff_u t1_j1ojmco wrote

Relax. Your child isn’t going to die or even get sick because of this even if there is asbestos. And don’t be angry with your husband, both of you decided to do this renovation. If you wanted to test it first then you should have ordered a kit and tested it. Don’t blame him after the fact. Try to get some sleep.

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SecurelyObscure t1_j1ok04z wrote

Just tearing down some drywall isn't likely to release much asbestos, even if it has it. They didn't put a lot in the boards or mud, it was the workers who were sanding the stuff for 8 hours a day that were in trouble.

Frankly I wouldn't have gotten the test done at all. For a low-asbestos product, it doesn't change how you deal with it (ventilation, don't grind or cut, breathing protection) and if it comes back positive, you're going to have to report that finding to anyone you sell the house to.

But yeah, it takes multiple decades to cause cancer, is almost always because of chronic exposure, and doesn't hurt children in particular like lead. So maybe take it easy on the guy.

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diet_reah t1_j1ok8m5 wrote

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.

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cbryancu t1_j1okttt wrote

yes should block area off from rest of house, tape off heat ducts and cold air return as well. If you get a spray bottle and wet down drywall as you go it will greatly reduce dust. Spray cracks as its removed, backside. I kind of doubt asbestos would be there, but that right as laws were changing.

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Creative-Trick-2310 OP t1_j1okzo6 wrote

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.

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diet_reah t1_j1oo882 wrote

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.

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