Asbestos paper and Gold Bond paper are types of insulation material made of asbestos fibers and binder, or starch. These paper products were used to cover industrial equipment and were applied as a backing material in building construction.

Asbestos was commonly added to paper insulation materials as asbestos fibers are strong and resistant to heat and fire.

Asbestos Paper

During the mid-1900s, asbestos paper was commonly applied as an insulation material to the following products:

Pipes
Electrical equipment
Boilers
Furnace ducts
Flue vents
Wood-burning stoves
Fiberboard backing
Floor tile backing
Air conditioning units

Asbestos paper was also used to seal joints in heating ducts and may appear corrugated, or ridged.

Paper materials are commonly applied outside of ductwork but may also be used inside ductwork as a lining for studs, floor joists or vibration damper material.

This material may be difficult to identify by sight alone. If you suspect asbestos materials have been used in your home or office building, a sample should be taken from the paper and sent to a lab to indentify the types of fibers used in the paper.

Those who have handled asbestos paper while installing or removing the material may have been exposed to asbestos fibers. Paper that has remained intact and whole may not pose risks to health, but paper that has been ripped, torn or frayed may release asbestos fibers into the air.

If used in or around air ducts, asbestos fibers may be sucked into the air passages and dispersed throughout a home or building.

Gold Bond Asbestos Paper

Gold Bond asbestos paper is a brand name product manufactured by the National Gypsum Company. The company produced a wide variety of asbestos products during the early 1900s including wallboards, roofing shingles, cements and siding.

These products were applied to the exterior and interior of structures such as schools, libraries and theaters.

Other manufacturers who produced asbestos paper include:

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
GAF/Ruberoid
Grant-Wilson, Inc.
Reynolds Metals Company
Westinghouse Electric Company

Gold Bond asbestos paper that has been disturbed may also emit asbestos fibers, which may remain airborne for hours or days.

Asbestos Paper and Mesothelioma

Airborne asbestos fibers can be breathed in or swallowed by homeowners or construction workers who may be near the asbestos-containing paper products. The fibers can remain lodged in the lining of the lungs once in the body. The fibers cannot be removed and may cause irritation and inflammation.

Over time, the presence of the fibers can lead to severe health conditions such as asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma.

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The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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