In addition to its use in other construction products, asbestos was also a popular additive to a variety of adhesive materials. This was due to the mineral’s natural ability to insulate against heat and fire, as well as its ability to provide general strengthening as an additive. Virtually all structures, like homes, schools and commercial buildings used some form of asbestos-containing adhesives. In addition, the percentage of asbestos found in a product could vary widely, depending on the type of product and its purpose. Below is a list of common asbestos-containing adhesives.

Bonding Cement

This product had many uses throughout construction, including its use in load and non-load bearing walls, ceilings, basements, HVAC ducts, chimney sealants, and flues. Although the use of asbestos in many products became regulated in the 1970s, these changes to the production of bonding cement took longer to come about because of the false belief that the deadly fibers would remain sealed in this product.

However, whenever any of these products are disturbed, there is a strong chance that millions of these fibers might be released. Therefore, anyone who worked in a field that used bonding cement in the 1980s faces potential exposure to past use of the material in old homes and other buildings. In addition, anyone who worked in a bonding cement processing plant may have been exposed to significant amounts of asbestos.

Tape

Duct tape remains one of the most popular and useful adhesive products with amateurs and professionals alike. The product was especially valuable as a heating or cooling unit wrap, steam and hot water pipe sealant and air duct covering, as it provided an air-tight seal.  The product could also provide structural integrity to metal joints and keep them from separating.

However, the predecessor to modern duct tape often contained asbestos fibers in concentrations as high as 80%. Older forms of duct tape which contained asbestos generally had a white color, rather than the silver look of modern products. In addition, it was more paper like, which also helps differentiate the two and warn those who come upon sources of it. Although it was unwittingly used for decades by workers who were unaware of its risks, we now know such products posed a significant risk and put countless employees in the construction, plumbing and insulation trades at risk.  

Emulsion Adhesives

Emulsion adhesives were used for affixing roofing or floor tiles, as they were able to strongly bond these products to a variety of surfaces, like wood. Asbestos was a popular additive to this product because of its ability to contribute to the adhesive’s strength, fire resistance and ability to withstand corrosion. It can be found in both the interior and exterior of structures and may also be used to manufacture furniture and other products, like decorative veneers.

Although today’s emulsion adhesives are considered safe by government regulatory standards, in the past some brands contained so much asbestos that this dangerous mineral was the primary ingredient. This means the greatest risk of exposure to emulsion adhesives today comes from renovation of older structures without proper abatement equipment. Like most asbestos-containing products, the risks are highest when the materials are damaged, allowing the fibers to disperse in the air where they can be inhaled. The greatest risk of exposure today lies with workers renovating and remodeling flooring and other areas of a structure that contained this material.   

Asbestos Adhesive Risks

Although those who worked with the product in past construction, or those who worked in plants manufacturing these materials, remain at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease, these products remain an active threat in older homes and buildings. This is especially true where the products have been damaged or aged excessively, which allows the asbestos fibers to separate from the product. Renovation without protection or knowledge of the asbestos dangers remains one of the most likely sources of exposure today.

This remains a highly dangerous source of asbestos exposure due to the variety of adhesive products asbestos was found in, as well as the location in the home they were found. Because adhesives are a product necessary to virtually all construction in one way or another, most structures built before the regulation of the 1970s almost certainly contains some source of this material.

Asbestos is a dangerous material due to its ability to fracture into tiny particles, which can enter the body and become embedded in the tissue surrounding internal organs. The body cannot rid itself of these particles due to their size and shape. Two unique conditions that can develop due to the presence of these particles are asbestosis, which is a respiratory condition, and mesothelioma, which is a form of cancer that develops in the protective tissue around organs, known as the mesothelium. In addition, those exposed to asbestos may develop lung cancer as a result of inhaling these particles.