Plaster Dust Hazards

Plaster dust itself, even when the plaster does not contain asbestos, can be a respiratory irritant or it may be hazardous as is silica dust from similar sources such as concrete-work. (Linch 2002)

Even a cursory search for "Plaster Lung Disease" or "Occupational lung disease" or "Silicosis" will reveal thousands of research articles discussing silica- and plaster-caused serious illnesses. (Koh 2011)

Silicosis is a fibrotic lung disease caused by inhalation of free crystalline silicon dioxide or silica. Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust particles occurs in many industries. ...
As yet, no curative treatment exists, but comprehensive management strategies help to improve quality of life and slow deterioration. (Leung 2008 - 2018)

Plaster dust is created when working on plaster-surfaced building ceilings and walls if those are being demolished or sawn-into, and plaster dust is also produced in a variety of arts, crafts, and in medical applications, even plaster casts for broken bones.

Plaster and plaster dust may contain various harmful materials in addition to silica, including asbestos, lead from lead paint coatings, and on occasion, mold spores.

[Click to enlarge any image]

The Canadian Gypsum Co. RockLath shown in our plasterboard demolition photograph, is discussed

at ASBESTOS in CANADIAN DRYWALL. There we warn that low-level incidental dust exposure are probably not harmful to healthy individuals and that extreme anxiety about such dust may itself be a health hazard as well as a risk to your wallet.

If you must demolish plaster walls and ceilings in buildings use dust containment and appropriate personal protective equipment including HEPA respirators, eye protection,etc.

Clean up plaster dust using HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping.

Research on Health Hazards from Exposure to Plaster Dust

• Also see additional citations at page endReferences or Citations
• Arellano, JL Pérez, R. Sánchez Sánchez, FJ Laso Guzmán, JM González Buitrago, A. Orfao Matos, and L. González Villarón. "Interstitial pulmonary disease in plaster workers." Revista clinica espanola 185, no. 3 (1989): 136-140.
  
  Abstract:
  Two cases of diffuse interstitial lung disease in plaster workers with clinical, histological and immunological data suggestive of hypersensitivity pneumonitis are presented. Special remark is made on the immunological results, both cellular (increase in activated T cells and Natural Killer cells) and humoral (immunoglobulins) from the bronchoalveolar lavage. We tried to detect the antigen although we did not succeed in its characterization and we discuss the relationship between these two cases and other hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
  
  We discuss the importance of the immunological study of cells obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage for the diagnosis of alveolitis with a lymphocytic predominance. Finally, we suggest that 99 Tc-DTPA gammagraphy can be usefull to monitor the evolution of the alveolitis in these patients.
• Ballarà, G., F. Cavariani, M. De Rossi, P. De Simone, C. Fanizza, and T. Turesi. SILICA PRESENCE IN BUILDING MATERIALS AND TASK-BASED EXPOSURE ASSOCIATED WITH RESTRUCTURING OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN ITALY [PDF]
• Gustitus, Delph A., and Peter M. Blaisdell. "Investigating the presence of hazardous materials in buildings." In Sampling environmental media. ASTM International, 1996.
• Jacobs, Neva FB, Kevin M. Towle, Brent L. Finley, and Shannon H. Gaffney. "An updated evaluation of potential health hazards associated with exposures to asbestos-containing drywall accessory products." Critical reviews in toxicology 49, no. 5 (2019): 430-444.
  
  Excerpt: Plaster work is still performed in the US on building interiors and is also used to create decorative building exteriors. Wet plaster is applied by hand and trowel, or sprayed on ...
  ... These conclusions are consistent with the lack of epidemiological evidence that drywall work resulted in an increased incidence of asbestos-related disease in the drywall trades.
  
  
• Koh, Dong-Hee, Ki-Tae Moon, Jeong-Youn Kim, and Seong-Weon Choe. "The risk of hospitalisation for infectious pneumonia in mineral dust exposed industries." Occupational and environmental medicine 68, no. 2 (2011): 116-119.
  
  Abstract
  Objectives The purpose of the study was to elucidate the relationship between industries characterised by mineral dust exposure and infectious pneumonia.
  
  Methods The authors applied a retrospective record linkage design and used the nationwide specific health examination database and identified industries where mineral dust exposure occurs and a control group composed of workers who had been exposed to noise-only during a 2000–2004 period.
  
  The database was matched with National Health Insurance claim records to identify pneumonia admissions from 2000 to 2005. The indirectly standardised admission ratios (SARs) for pneumonia admissions were estimated by comparing mineral dust exposed industry workers with noise-only exposed workers.
  
  Results The authors found significantly elevated SARs in both men (1.54, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.05) and women (3.23, 95% CI 1.40 to 6.37) working in the cement, lime, plaster and plaster products industries, and only in men working in the cast-metals industry (foundry) (1.64, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.11).
  
  Conclusions These results support the association between mineral dust exposure, as well as metal fumes, and infectious pneumonia.

Below all of the wood lath on this wall has been exposed by the author [DF] during renovations of 28 West Street in Wappingers Falls, NY.

This home, located in "the bleachery" district of the village, was constructed in about 1880 or earlier.

• Kumar Mishra, Anjay, and P. S. Aithal. "Operational Risk Analysis of Common Activities of Building Construction Project." Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education 12, no. 11 (2021): 6507-6524.
  
  Abstract
  
  The Paper aims to analyze operational risk of Brick work, Plaster works, Plumbing works and Painting works of different high rise building construction projects within Kathmandu , Nepal. The data were collected from the workers and the site management team through questionnaire survey and direct observation.
  
  Data were analyzed, interpreted and presented using simple descriptive statistics, tables, bar charts and pie charts. Risk level of Painting works was the highest with risk score of 18.0 among all four types of job under study.|
  
  Brick works and plaster works was the highest with 16 and 13.125 risk score respectively. So, both considered as “High risk”.
  
  Plumbing works had been found to have the highest risk score of 9.75 and having risk rating level of “Moderate”. Risk level of activity, working on scaffolding had been revealed as the highest for painting works, brick works, and plaster works with activity risk score of 18.0, 16.0, and 13.125 respectively having risk rating level of “High” but for plumbing works it was “moderate risk level with risk score of 8.25.
  
  The riskiest activity for plumbing work had been revealed as Working in narrow space/ voids with risk score of 9.75 having risk rating level of “Moderate”. Lifting up of construction materials to working platform had been revealed as another common activity for painting works, brick works, and plaster works with respective risk score of 12.25, 14.0, 12.25 having risk level rating of “High”.
  
  Storing materials over platform of scaffolding had been revealed as the another common activity with respective risk score and risk level 11.375 “Moderate” for painting works, 13.125 “High” for brick work, and 9.75 “Moderate” for plaster works. Painting in required pattern, use of faulty tools, sanding/ scrubbing wall surface for painting, blending of paints were another activities in painting works with “Moderate” risk level rating and respective risk score of 10.5, 9.0, 8.0, and 6.0.
  
  For brick work in high-rise building, cutting/ breaking/ drilling, using faulty tools, and brick laying in line were the another activity in with “Moderate” risk level rating and respective risk score of 11.25, 9.0, and 6.9.
  
  For plaster work in high-rise building, plastering in required line and level, cutting/ breaking/ drilling, using faulty tools, were the another activity with “Moderate” risk level rating and respective risk score of 10.50, 9.0, and 8.0. The management commitment to the job safety along with worker participation is essential for successful construction project.
  
  Preventive and control measures should be planned and implemented as per the risk level assessed for prevailing hazards. Keywords: Occupational Health and Safety, High Rise, Brick Work, Plaster Works, Plumbing Works, Painting Works, High, Moderate and Low
• Leathart, G. L., and J. T. Sanderson. "Some observations on asbestosis." The Annals of occupational hygiene 6, no. 2 (1963): 65-74.
  
  Abstract:
  Asbestosis, which is a fatal occupational disease is still occurring 30 yr after steps were taken to eliminate the disease. This is because of expansion of the industry, and especially of the insulating uses of asbestos. Nearly half the certified cases in the last two years occurred in insulators, whose work is not covered by the regulations introduced 30 yr ago.
  
  The work of a lagger in a building is described and it is concluded that mixing of magnesia/asbestos plaster is the chief hazard.
  
  It is suggested that efforts should be made to find, and use, a substitute for asbestos fibre and that distribution of ready-mixed plaster should be considered. In the meantime the Asbestos Industry Regulations and the Silicosis and Asbestosis (Medical Arrangements) Scheme should be expanded to include the lagger and his work.
  
  Until such steps are taken this essentially preventable disease will continue to cause unnecessary death and suffering.

• Leung, Chi Chiu, Ignatius Tak Sun Yu, and Weihong Chen. "Silicosis." The Lancet 379, no. 9830 (2012): 2008-2018.
  Abstract:
  
  Silicosis is a fibrotic lung disease caused by inhalation of free crystalline silicon dioxide or silica. Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust particles occurs in many industries.
  
  Phagocytosis of crystalline silica in the lung causes lysosomal damage, activating the NALP3 inflammasome and triggering the inflammatory cascade with subsequent fibrosis. Impairment of lung function increases with disease progression, even after the patient is no longer exposed.
  
  Diagnosis of silicosis needs carefully documented records of occupational exposure and radiological features, with exclusion of other competing diagnoses. Mycobacterial diseases, airway obstruction, and lung cancer are associated with silica dust exposure.
  
  As yet, no curative treatment exists, but comprehensive management strategies help to improve quality of life and slow deterioration. Further efforts are needed for recognition and control of silica hazards, especially in developing countries.
• Linch, Kenneth D. "Respirable concrete dust--silicosis hazard in the construction industry." Applied occupational and environmental hygiene 17, no. 3 (2002): 209-221.
  Abstract:
  Concrete is an extremely important part of the infrastructure of modern life and must be replaced as it ages. Many of the methods of removing, repairing, or altering existing concrete structures have the potential for producing vast quantities of respirable dust. Since crystalline silica in the form of quartz is a major component of concrete, airborne respirable quartz dust may be produced during construction work involving the disturbance of concrete, thereby producing a silicosis hazard for exposed workers.
  
  Silicosis is a debilitating and sometimes fatal lung disease resulting from breathing microscopic particles of crystalline silica. Between 1992 and 1998, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) made visits to construction projects where concrete was being mechanically disturbed in order to obtain data concerning respirable crystalline silica dust exposures.
  
  The construction activities studied included: abrasive blasting, concrete pavement sawing and drilling, and asphalt/concrete milling. Air samples of respirable dust were obtained using 10-mm nylon cyclone pre-separators, 37-mm polyvinyl chloride (PVC) filters, and constant-flow pumps calibrated at 1.7 L/min.
  
  In addition, high-volume respirable dust samples were obtained on 37-mm PVC filters using ½" metal cyclones (Sensidyne model 18) and constant-flow pumps calibrated at 9.0 L/min. Air sample analysis included total weight gain by gravimetric analysis according to NIOSH Analytical Method 600 and respirable crystalline silica (quartz and cristobalite) using x-ray diffraction, as per NIOSH Analytical Method 7500.
  
  For abrasive blasting of concrete structures, the respirable crystalline silica (quartz) concentration ranged up to 14.0 mg/m 3 for a 96-minute sample resulting in an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 2.8 mg/m 3 . For drilling concrete highway pavement the respirable quartz concentrations ranged up to 4.4 mg/m 3 for a 358-minute sample, resulting in an eight-hour TWA of 3.3 mg/m 3 .
  
  For concrete wall grinding during new building construction the respirable quartz measurements ranged up to 0.66 mg/m 3 for a 191-minute sample, resulting in an eight-hour TWA of 0.26 mg/m 3 .
  
  The air sampling results for concrete sawing ranged up to 14.0 mg/m 3 for a 350-minute sample resulting in an eight-hour TWA of 10.0 mg/m 3 . During the milling of asphalt from concrete highway pavement, the sampling indicated a respirable quartz concentration ranging up to 0.34 mg/m 3 for a 504-minute sample, resulting in an eight-hour TWA of 0.36 mg/m 3 .
  
  The results of this work indicate the potential for respirable quartz concentrations involving disturbance of concrete to range up to 280 times the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) of 0.05 mg/m 3 assuming exposure for an eight- to ten-hour workday. Considering the aging of the concrete infrastructure in the United States, these results pose a challenge to all who have an interest in preventing silica exposures and the associated disease silicosis.
• Mohamed, Heba Al-kotb. "Occupational hazards and their relation with health problems among construction building workers at El Sherouk City." American Journal of Nursing Research 5, no. 3 (2017): 96-103.
• Moreno-Ancillo, A., M. A. Padial, M. C. Lopez-Serrano, and S. Granado. "Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to inhalation of fungi-contaminated esparto dust in a plaster worker." In Allergy and asthma proceedings, vol. 18, no. 6, p. 355. OceanSide Publications, 1997.
• O'Brien, Richard S., John R. Peggie, and Ian S. Leith. Estimates of the radiation dose from phospho-gypsum plaster-board if used in domestic buildings. No. ARL-TR--098. Australian Radiation Lab., 1991.
  Abstract:
  
  This report presents the results of a study carried out to estimate the annual effective dose equivalent contribution from phospho-gypsum plaster-board if it were used as an internal lining in buildings. The study considered four sources of radiation exposure that would arise in such use, such as inhalation of 222Rn and its daughters, inhalation of phospho-gypsum dust and exposure to beta and gamma radiation. Measurements of the 226Ra content and 222Rn exhalation rate were made for a number of samples of phospho-gypsum plaster-board, and the behaviour of 222Rn and its daughters in a typical building was modelled.
  
  The results of the study suggest that, for building ventilation rates greater than approximately 0.5 air changes per hour, the contribution to the total annual effective dose equivalent from inhalation of radon (222Rn) and its daughters (218Po, 214Pb, 214Po) exhaled from the phospho-gypsum plaster-board should be well below the recommended limit of 1 milli-Sievert for members of the public.
  
  The total annual effective dose equivalent from all these sources should be less than 0.6 milli-Sieverts, provided reasonable work practices are observed during installation of the phospho-gypsum plaster-board and the ventilation rate is kept above approximately 0.5 air changes per hour.
• Owen, O. J., M. A. Yahaya, and M. B. Nodu. HOUSING: PLASTERED VERSUS UN-PLASTERED BROODER WALLS IN POULTRY PRODUCTION [PDF] Animal Health and Production 62 (2014): 171.
  Abstract:
  An investigation was carried out to study the health impact of inadequate brooder house with poor make-up on chicks. Two brooder houses were constructed with a mixture of sand and cementitious materials consisting of lime and/or gypsum to form concrete blocks. Brooder 1 was plastered with cement (cemented) and served as control while brooder 2 was not plastered with cement (un-cemented) and served as the treatment. One hundred (100) day old broilers of mixed sexes and also 100 cockerels were used in the experiment that lasted for 28 days.
  
  Fifty broilers (50) and fifty (50) cockerels were randomly assigned to the plastered and un- plastered brooder houses. The results obtained showed that broilers placed in plastered building suffered 6 mortalities out of 50 representing 12% and also that 4 cockerels representing 8% died in the cemented brooder.
  
  Results obtained in the un- plastered brooder walls showed that 31 broilers representing 62% died while 22 cockerels equivalent to 44% suffered mortality. The high incidence of mortalities in the un- plastered brooder house could be due to the ingesting of mixture of cement/sand particles used in moulding the blocks which became too toxic for the chicks at their tender age. C
  
  onclusion was reached that keeping in view with the hazards of cement, it is advisable therefore, to plaster the walls of the poultry houses to prevent the birds from pecking and swallowing cement particles.
• Sheinbaum, Milton. "Some health hazards associated with the building trades." American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 23, no. 5 (1962): 353-358.
  
  Abstract:
  
  Technological advancement in building construction has produced some new modes of exposures to some traditional hazards, and has introduced several new types of hazards. Included are those from the use of various dusty materials in new processes, from new chemical products and solvents as they are used in construction, and from fuel exhaust.
  
  Recommendations are given for controlling hazards in the pneumatic application of sanded plaster and concrete grinding; in the use of epoxy and polyurethanes; in paint spraying; and in the operation of engines for materials-handling equipment and heaters for construction jobs.
• Stewart, Roy. DUST IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY [PDF] (2018). Southern Institute of Technology, OS Intervention Programme Design and Evaluation: Construction Dust, New Zealand
  
  Abstract
  The sources of dusts both external and as created by work processes. The diseases caused by dust. The importance of “dose” in terms of health outcomes, and diseases. "Dose" determination. Critical analysis of available information (data) as well as relevant case studies, reports, investigations to identify the important health and safety issues. Intervention programmes.
  Excerpt:
  Plaster. Gypsum is slaked, thus it reacts with water inside the lungs causing irritation to the respiratory system and occupational asthma. Long term plaster-lung is likely to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lungs, heart), chronic bronchitis and emphysema (lungs), which is irreversible. (Breathefreely.org n.d.)
• Ziskind, Morton, Robert N. Jones, and Hans Weill. "Silicosis." American review of respiratory disease 113, no. 5 (1976): 643-665.

Plaster cast asbestos hazards

• Michele, Croce, and Clarence G. Shuttleworth. "Plaster compositions and products." U.S. Patent 2,681,863, issued June 22, 1954.
  Excerpt:
  
  It should be observed also that in some instances asbestos has been used in plaster. In one such use the asbestos fiber has been added to plaster primarily to improve the plaster workability or trowelling characteristics while in another instance, in the Croce Patent No. 2,526,066, such asbestos fiber was added as a means for retaining an expansive component of the plaster composition in place in the set cast.
  
  In each case the amount of asbestos was quite high, and the Water absorptive capacity of the asbestos has increased the drying time of casts thus made.
• Michele, Croce. "Plastic composition materials and products made therefrom." U.S. Patent 2,526,066, issued October 17, 1950.
  Excerpt:
  
  In actual practice, I have found that a grade of asbestos designated as 5-R is suitable and economical for the purpose. This asbestos fibre is of medium length and is economical in cost.
  ...
  Longer fibred asbestos is more effective on an equal weight basis, but the cost per pound is also higher.
  ...
  A stiff self-sustaining panel adapted for use as the outer structural layer of a wall structure and in the form of a body member comprising about 93% of set calcined gypsum as the major ingredient, about 2% by weight of asbestos fibres; and about :5% by weight of high-grade comminuted Vermiculite in its unexpanded form and of a particle size of about minus 28 mesh commercial grading, said bres and said comminuted mineral being dispersed through the body.
• Planteydt, H. T. "A Risk From Asbestos in Pleurectomy." JAMA 196, no. 4 (1966): 373-373.
• Scales, John T. THE USE OF POLYETHYLENE AND RESINATED ASBESTOS FELT FOR SPLINTS [PDF] The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British volume 32, no. 1 (1950): 60-65. - retrieved 2018/09/09 original source online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/pdf/10.1302/0301-620X.32B1.60
• Tseng, How, Jiunn-Liang Chen, and Ju-Yu Chueh. "Orthopedic casting material and the method of making the same." U.S. Patent Application 10/255,573, filed February 5, 2004.
  Excerpt:
  
  U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,333 disclosed an orthopedic cast made of a mixture of polyethylene and thermoplastic polyester with a melting temperature between 50° C. and 100° C. The thermoplastic polyester can be polycaprolactone with an average molecular weight of over 5,000. In order to enhance the stability of the structure of the orthopedic cast and avoid it over-molding under molten status, the orthopedic cast is added fillers, such as silicon dioxide, mica and asbestos etc.
• Walter, Dahmen. "Surgical dressing." U.S. Patent 2,127,552, issued August 23, 1938.
  
  Excerpt:
  One of the specific fillers that I have found particularly amenable for my purposes is pine, although oak has been used with success, as have been asbestos, Bakelite and aluminum.
  
  See ASBESTOS in PLASTICS

 

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Citations & References

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